Manhattan U.S. Attorney Charges Former Fire District Commissioner with Engaging in Scheme to Defraud the Public
| U.S. Attorney’s Office April 15, 2011 |
PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and JANICE K. FEDARCYK, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced charges today against NATHAN ROTHSCHILD, the former Fire District Commissioner for Rockland County, for engaging in a mail fraud scheme in which he allegedly caused the fire district to enter into a real estate transaction with a creditor of his in order to payoff personal debts. ROTHSCHILD was charged by Information and surrender.ed to authorities this morning. He was presented before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge GEORGE A. YANTHIS in White Plains federal court, where he waived indictment and was released on bail conditions.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney PREET BHARARA said: “This charge, if proven, represents a serious violation of public trust. Public officials should not think that their office can be used as a personal piggy bank. The office and its law enforcement partners are dedicated to rooting out and prosecuting such behavior wherever we find it.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge JANICE K. FEDARCYK said: “Public corruption in any form is a betrayal of the public. Elected or appointed officials are called public servants for a reason. They are supposed to serve the public. The conduct of Rothschild was not only self-serving, but illegal.”
ROTHSCHILD, 54, of Monsey, Rockland County, New York, is charged with one count of mail fraud. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of the greater of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss derived from the crime.
Mr. BHARARA praised the efforts of the FBI in the investigation.
This case is being handled by the White Plains Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys DOUGLAS B. BLOOM and MARGERY B. FEINZIG are in charge of the prosecution.
The charge contained in the information is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.