Ramapo Councilman Tress Resigns Seat To Avoid Prison Time

RAMAPO, N.Y. -- Ramapo Councilman Samuel "Shmuel" Tress resigned his seat from the Ramapo Town Council on Thursday as part of a plea deal that allows him to avoid prison time in connection with a vote he made on the Zoning Board that allowed him to profit from the outcome.

Samuel Tress
Photo Credit: *PreserveRamapo.org*

K Reakes

09/02/2016 4:15 p.m.

Tress, who offered his resignation on Thursday through a letter, was charged with voting in favor of a zoning change in which he stood to make a profit, even though he had signed an affidavit saying he would not receive any proceeds from the vote, confirmed Ramapo Public Affairs Director Phil Tisi.

The councilman, 71, who was elected to office in 2015, was arrested in March on a felony charge of offering a false instrument and for official misconduct.

As part of the plea deal offered by the Rockland County District Attorney's Office, Tress was required to resign his seat, pay a $500 fine and agree not to seek any future office in Ramapo, according to lohud.com.

Ramapo Town Attorney Michael Klein was not available for comment.

Click here to read the lohud.com article.

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