NEW CITY – A Spring Valley Village trustee and another man were arrested by Rockland County authorities and charged with crimes related to a scheme to defraud a day camp over its transportation.
Trustee Jermika Depas, 31, of Spring Valley and Vilair Fonvil, 54, of West Orange, New Jersey, were each charged with felonies of grand larceny as a crime of public corruption and money laundering.
District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said the charges stem from bus transportation of day camp children, the alleged approval of public funds and kickbacks from them involving the two individuals.
“Once again, we see a combination of hubris and greed corrupt a local official in Spring Valley,” said Zugibe. “Holding any elected office, especially one responsible for ensuring the safety of children, is a sacred trust. To use that position to line one’s pockets is an affront to democratic government and violates our most basic obligation to those we serve.”
The criminal charges are the culmination of a lengthy probe by the Public Corruption Task Force, which is made up of the Rockland DA’s Office, and federal and local law enforcement agencies.
