Rockland DA: 5 Lied about Doing Community Service

Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe today announced the arrests of five residents for allegedly submitting letters falsely stating that community service conditions had been satisfactorily met.

The forged documents were presented to the Clarkstown Justice Court claiming to be authored by a variety of organizations -- from the Tappan Zee High School football team to the Spring Valley Salvation Army -- for which the defendants had ostensibly performed court-ordered community service.

“Community service represents an important obligation for those sentenced to complete it,” Zugibe said in a prepared statement. “Faking proof of completion is a serious offense, leading to criminal consequences, and in some cases, increased sentences.”

It should be noted that an indictment is merely an accusation and that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Each of the following defendants has been charged with Forgery in the Second Degree, a class “D” Felony; and Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class “D” Felony

• Maria Pagliaroli, 22, of 580 Western Highway, Blauvelt, New York had been sentenced to 25 hours of community service on an unrelated matter by Hon. Howard Gerber of the Clarkstown Justice Court. The defendant thereafter submitted a letter to the court, on Tappan Zee High School letterhead, stating she performed 24 hours of community service with the Tappan Zee High School Football Team. An investigation revealed that the supposed signatory of the letter does not work for the Tappan Zee High School Athletic Department. There is no record that the defendant completed community service hours with the football team.
• Brandi Bourguignon, 19, of 315 Kennedy Drive, Spring Valley, New York and Keesha Civil, 19, of 37 Seabring Street, Apt. B, Spring Valley, New York were co-defendants in an earlier case, having each been sentenced to 50 hours of community Service by Hon. Craig Johns of the Clarkstown Justice Court. On September 24, 2015, the defendants submitted letters to the court from the Tropical Restaurant and the United Methodist Church of Spring Valley, stating they performed community service hours. The investigation revealed that the supposed signatory of the letter to The Tropical Restaurant does not work for that establishment. Further, the investigation revealed that the letter stating the defendants completed community service work there was not generated by the Church. Neither establishment has any record of the defendants completing community service work.
• Stephanie Cumberbatch, 24, of 24 Broad Street, Haverstraw, New York had been sentenced on an unrelated matter to 50 hours of community service by Hon. Howard Gerber of the Clarkstown Justice Court. On September 16, 2015, the defendant submitted a letter to the court stating she performed 50 hours of community service with The Tappan Zee Thrift Shop, Inc. An investigation revealed that the letter was a forgery. There is no record the defendant completing community service hours with The Tappan Zee Thrift Shop, Inc.
• Shaquille Craddock, 22, of 10 Durante Court, New Hempstead, New York: The defendant had been sentenced to 25 hours of community service by Hon. Craig Johns of the Clarkstown Justice Court. On September 1, 2015, the defendant submitted a letter to the court, on The Salvation Army letterhead, stating he performed 25 hours of community service with the Spring Valley branch of The Salvation Army. An investigation revealed that the letter was a forgery. There is no record the defendant having completed community service hours with The Salvation Army.

They were arrested by the detectives with the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office Special Investigation Unit. Each has been arraigned. The charges are pending in the Clarkstown Justice Court.

Executive Assistant District Attorney Richard K. Moran of the Special Investigations Unit and Assistant District Attorney Justin Ames are prosecuting the cases.