Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence’s corruption trial is set for mid-April
“Former Ramapo attorney Aaron Troodler is expected to testify against his former co-defendant, Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence, as part of his guilty plea to federal fraud and corruption charges, the plea agreement confirms.
Troodler pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court in White Plains to committing securities fraud as part of a corruption scheme involving the financing of the town’s baseball stadium through the Ramapo Local Development Corp. Troodler, a former deputy town attorney, also served as the LDC’s executive director while St. Lawrence chaired the three-member board. He now lives in Pennsylvania.
The plea agreement Troodler signed states: “It is understood that the defendant (a) shall truthfully and completely disclose all information with respect to the activities of himself and others concerning all matters … and shall truthfully testify before the grand jury and at any trial and other court proceedings with respect to any matters about which this office may request.”
It says Troodler’s agreement to cooperate comes without a guarantee of any special considerations when he is sentenced for his crimes.
Federal prosecutors promised only to relay the extent of his cooperation to the sentencing judge and federal probation officials, according to the plea agreement. If Troodler does not provide substantial assistance in the prosecution or investigation, the prosecution can inform the court of that — but Troodler cannot withdraw his guilty plea.
Troodler’s cooperation will likely have him testifying with other town employees and officials at St. Lawrence’s scheduled trial in April.”
Read the complete Journal News story along with reactions from the public here.