Spring Valley Trustee Charged in Camp Transportation Scheme

SPRING VALLEY, NY — A member of the Village of Spring Valley Board of Trustees and an alleged co-conspirator were arrested Tuesday in a sweeping corruption indictment involving the transportation of local children to Ramapo day camp. The trustee is actually a New Jersey resident, according to the Rockland County DA.

Vilair Fonvil of 23 Devon Drive, West Orange, New Jersey is charged with:

• One count of Corrupting the Government in the Third Degree, a class “D” Felony
• One count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree as a Crime of Public Corruption, a class “C” Felony
• One count of Money Laundering in the Fourth Degree, a class “E” Felony
• One count of Receiving Reward for Official Misconduct In The Second Degree, a class “E” Felony

Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe identified Fonvil's co-defendant as Jermika Depas of 25 South Madison Avenue, Spring Valley, New York. Depas is charged with:

• One count of Corrupting The Government in the Third Degree, a class “D” Felony
• One count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree as a Crime of Public Corruption, a class “C” Felony
• One count of Money Laundering in the Fourth Degree, a class “E” Felony

“Once again, we see a combination of hubris and greed corrupt a local official in Spring Valley,” Zugibe said in the announcement. “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.”

According to the charges, the Village Board of Trustees, at the urging of Fonvil, passed a June 2016 resolution authorizing the payment of $24,225 to Depas for the purpose of coordinating the transportation of Spring Valley children to summer camps in the Town of Ramapo.

It is alleged that the contract, assembled by Fonvil and signed by Fonvil on behalf of the Village, called for Depas to hire six bus monitors to supervise the children.

It is additionally alleged that Fonvil, acting in concert with Depas, hired only three monitors.

Fonvil was involved in the day-to-day operations of the program and solely responsible for paying the three monitors weekly. The monitors were paid in cash and were never issued W2 forms.

Days into the camp program, Fonvil and Depas ceased using the bus company that was being paid directly by the Village to transport the children.

Fonvil proposed using buses owned by the Village of Spring Valley. At Fonvil’s request, the Village Board passed a resolution to issue another check to Depas for an additional $3750, ostensibly for extra costs incurred due to this change. However, instead of incurring the cost of hiring a bus driver, Depas allegedly assigned one of the monitors to drive the village-owned bus.

Finally, it is alleged that during the final two weeks of the camp program, Depas, utilizing the Spring Valley funds, purchased three bank checks totaling $16,700. Two of the checks were issued in the names of two of the bus monitors and a third was issued in the name of an individual not associated with the program.

Within hours of their purchase, all three checks were cashed at the same bank.

According to the charges, over $10,000 of this money was then given directly to Fonvil by the person whom cashed the check. In one instance, it is alleged Fonvil paid the individual $500 to cash the check and give him the balance of the funds.

Both defendants were arrested Tuesday by members of the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office Special Investigation’s Unit.

The criminal charges are the culmination of a lengthy probe by the Public Corruption Task Force, which is made up of the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office, federal and local law enforcement agencies.

“The investigation and prosecution of public corruption is among the highest obligations of law enforcement and I consider it to be one of the top priorities of the Rockland County District Attorney's Office," Zugibe said. "As taxpayers and as residents, we must be able to rely on and expect the honesty and integrity of government officials and other holders of the public's trust.”

Fonvil, 55, and Depas, 31, were both arraigned and due back in court on June 27, 2017.

If convicted, each faces up to 10 years in state prison. Executive Assistant District Attorney Richard Kennison Moran is prosecuting the case.

SEE ALSO:

• Ruling on Takeover of Spring Valley Democratic Committee