Crime

Former Sloatsburg EMS President Pleads Guilty to Multiple Charges

Published

3 years ago

July 22, 2021

SLOASTBURG, NY – Rockland County District Attorney Tom Walsh announced the plea of guilty on a grand larceny charge of the former president of the Sloatsburg Volunteer Ambulance Corps. The plea brings to a close a months-long, multi- agency investigation into the stealing of funds from the ambulance corps.

Matthew Gannon, 54, of Sloatsburg, NY, appeared before Hon. Larry J Schwartz today, pleaded guilty to grand larceny 2nd (felony). In doing so, Gannon admitted to stealing in excess of $70,000 from the Sloatsburg Volunteer Ambulance Corps. during his tenure as President. Specifically, Gannon admitted to transferring moneys to two of his personal checking accounts in excess of $24,000, and admitted making payments directly from the Sloatsburg Volunteer Ambulance Corps. bank accounts for unauthorized personal expenditures to the following: All-State Insurance in excess of $18,000, Optimum in excess of $13,000, Salve Regina University / First Mark Loan in excess of $10,000, New York Jets in excess of $9,000, State Farm Insurance in excess of $5,000, Lucking Field Hockey in excess of $2,250, ACE Hardware in excess of $1,000, and the University of Albany in excess of $1,000. In exchange for Gannon’s plea of guilty, Judge Schwartz promised to sentence Gannon based on one of the following three scenarios: (1) If Gannon fails to pay back restitution by his sentence date, he will be sentenced to 1-3 years in state prison, (2) if Gannon pays back at least half the restitution by his sentence date, he will be sentenced to one year intermittent in the Rockland County Jail, or (3) if Gannon pays back the entire restitution amount before his sentence date, he will be sentenced to a split sentence of six months intermittent in the Rockland County Jail and five-years probation which will include an undetermined amount of community service. The restitution amount may be up to $79,092.28, and will be paid back to the Town of Ramapo.

At Gannon’s plea, the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office recommended that Judge Schwartz sentence Gannon to an indeterminate term of two to six years in state prison with full restitution. The District Attorney’s Office’s position is based on defendant’s prior conviction for falsifying business records for the Suffern school district, and the fact that the Sloatsburg Volunteer Ambulance Corps. has been shut down due to Gannon’s theft. Judge Schwartz will sentence Gannon on 10/26/2021.

District Attorney Tom Walsh said, “Today’s guilty plea is a direct result of a well-coordinated investigation, by a multitude of law enforcement agencies, from local, county and state levels. We cannot allow persons who oversee the funds of such a vital community program, such as a volunteer ambulance corps, to feel they can steal without consequence.”

The investigation was conducted by Town of Ramapo Police Department, Rockland County District Attorney’s Special Investigation Unit and the NYS attorney General’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Executive Assistant District Attorney Michael Dugandzic and Assistant District Attorney Nicole Garcia

Crime

HPD Announce Arrest Of A Staten Island Man For Burglary Of Pomona Business

Published

2 weeks ago

November 9, 2024

Rockland Report Admin

The Haverstraw Police Department announces the arrest of Jeffrey Reader (33) of Staten Island, New York in connection with a burglary of a Pomona business that occurred in March 2024.

Reader was located and arrested yesterday in Staten Island by the Haverstraw Police Department and transported back to Rockland County where he is charged with Burglary 3rd degree (Class D Felony), Criminal Mischief 4th degree (Class A Misdemeanor) and Petit Larceny (Class A Misdemeanor). Reader was arraigned last evening and remanded into custody of the Rockland County Correctional Facility.

It should be noted that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Crime

Haverstraw Man Sentenced To State Prison Following Jury Trial Conviction On Felony Sexual Abuse Charge

Published

3 weeks ago

November 1, 2024

Rockland Report Admin

Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II announced today that Elmer Oviedo Sandoval, 47 of Haverstraw, New York was sentenced to six years in state prison following an August 8, 2024, conviction after a Rockland County jury trial on one count of Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the Second Degree (Class D Felony).

From 2016 to 2019, beginning when the victim was nine years old, the defendant subjected her to sexual contact on multiple occasions while she resided in two separate residences within the Town of Ramapo. In 2023, when the victim 16 years old, disclosed the previous abuse by the defendant to her mother and it was reported to the Ramapo Police Department.

District Attorney Tom Walsh said, “Sexual abuse of a minor is a heinous crime, leaving victims with lasting physical, emotional, and psychological effects. I admire the courage of the victim in this case who bravely came forward to tell her story. I commend the thorough and professional prosecution by the Assistant District Attorneys and investigation by the Ramapo Police Department working with the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office Special Victims. My Office will continue to work tirelessly to protect and keep innocent children in our community safe.”

On October 29, 2024, the defendant was sentenced by Judge Anne Bianchi to six years in state prison followed by ten years of post-release supervision. Once the defendant is released from prison, he will be required to register as a Sex Offender.

The investigation was conducted by the Town of Ramapo Police Department with assistance from the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office Special Victims Unit. Supervising Assistant District Attorney Gerard M. Damiani III and Senior Assistant District Attorney Kaitlin Deluca prosecuted the case.