Anthony Mallia led away in handcuffs arrested at his home
Photo: John Meore/The Journal News Sept. 15, 2016
Today the District Attorney announced that a grand jury upped the number of charges against Mallia from the original 100 felony and misdemeanor charges to 188. And the investigation is continuing into practices of the Ramapo Building Department.
“Ramapo Chief Building Inspector Anthony Mallia has been indicted on 188 counts accusing him of stealing $150,000 from town taxpayers and falsifying building permits and other records, authorities announced Wednesday.
Mallia, 52, of Airmont, allegedly undercharged contractors for building permits, denying taxpayers the full revenue due to them. Ramapo determines building permit fees based on the value of the planned construction, officials said.
At the same time, Mallia also is accused of overcharging the Moleston Fire District for a building permit by $75,000. The Moleston Fire District oversees the Hillcrest Fire Department and oversaw construction of a new multi-million dollar firehouse on Route 45.
Rockland District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said the indictment alleges Mallia developed an elaborate scheme to steal taxpayer money rather than to ensure public safety and compliance. His office is part of an anti-corruption task force along with U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara’s staff and the FBI.
The grand jury charged Mallia with two felony counts of second-degree grand larceny. He faces 66 counts of first-degree falsifying business records and 40 felony counts each of first-degree tampering with public record and issuing a false certificate, along with 40 counts of misdemeanor official misconduct.
Mallia’s arraignment on the indictment is set for Feb. 14 before County Court Judge David Zuckerman at the Rockland Courthouse in New City.”
Read the complete Journal News story here.