Today’s Public Official Misfit: Town Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence of Ramapo, NY

Christopher P. St. Lawrence Ramapo Town Supervisor has been the Ramapo Town Supervisor since his appointment in 2000.

In May 2016, Chris and several of his comrades along with the city of Ramapo were charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with fraud for allegedly hiding a deteriorating financial situation from their municipal bond investors. This appears to be the first case wherein municipal officials have been criminally charged with fraud for misleading investors.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York and the Securities and Exchange Commission today announced fraud charges against the city of Ramapo, N.Y., its local development corporation, and four town officials who allegedly hid a deteriorating financial situation from their municipal bond investors. It is the first known case of municipal officials criminally charged with fraud as a result of misleading investors. (Mark Melin)

Chris, along with his comrades face 22 counts of securities fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy as it relates to the bunds the municipality issued for the purpose of covering up payments for a baseball stadium, a project that the voters summarily rejected.

Preet Bharara, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York said:

• “Today, this Office has brought what is believed to be the first ever municipal bond-related criminal securities fraud charges against public officials.”
• “Christopher St. Lawrence and N. Aaron Troodler kicked truth and transparency to the curb, selling over $150 million of municipal bonds on fabricated financials.”
• “In doing so, they defrauded both the citizens of Ramapo and thousands of municipal bond investors around the country.”

All that’s left now is to see how long it takes for Chris to cop a plea. Hopefully, the trial court judge will sentence him to at least 10 years to be spent in the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas. The judge should also order that Chris be housed in Cell No. 414 where he’ll be roomed up with Clarice. His real name is Clarence and his is rumored to be the friendliest guy in the joint.