A Monsey man, the former director of Park Avenue Bank, has been arrested and charged with bank fraud and other charges for attempting to obtain a $1.4 million loan from the bank. Geoffrey Berman, the U-S Attorney for the Southern District of New York, says 61 year-old Mendel Zilberberg worked with others to exploit his position at the bank to get the loan for themselves. Charged alongside Zilberberg was 46 year-old Aron Fried of Toms River, New Jersey. Berman says Fried and another unnamed co-conspirator wanted the money to invest in a home health care business, but needed help from Zilberberg because the third party wasn’t credit-worthy and had a criminal record. Both face several charges including bank fraud, and making false statements to a bank, and each charge carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.
News
Fire Hits Pearl River Pizza Place, No Injuries Reported
No injuries reported after an early-morning fire in Pearl River. Fire officials say the blaze took place at Sorento’s Pizza and Restaurant on Middletown Road at around 5:30 this morning.
Ramapo PD: Woman Extricated from Car After Swerving to Avoid Deer
An unidentified woman suffered minor injuries after reportedly swerving to avoid a deer on Rockland Lane in Ramapo early this morning. Ramapo Police say she struck a parked car, causing her car to roll over onto the driver’s side. She had to be extricated from the car by the Hillcrest Fire Department.
New City Mom of Twins Who Died in Hot Car Last Summer to Appear on Dr. Phil TV Show
The New City mother of the one year-old twins who died in an overheated car this past summer while her husband was at work is telling her story to Doctor Phil. In a brief clip posted on the show’s website, Marissa Rodriquez says she was angry and she didn’t understand how it happened. Juan Rodriquez faces second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide charges after allegedly forgetting to drop his kids off at daycare. His attorney has been trying to get prosecutors in the Bronx to drop the charges.
Local Lawmaker Wants Water Company to Give Customers Credit for Recent Odor and Taste Issues
A local lawmaker has been hearing from area residents, and experiencing first-hand, the earthy smell and taste from SUEZ Water, and though he trusts the water is safe, he is still concerned. The company says the smell and odor come from an algae bloom in Lake Deforest due to a lack of rain. Rockland and Westchester state senator David Carlucci says affected ratepayers deserve a credit from the company…
SUEZ New York’s Director of External Affairs, Bill Madden, addressed the issue here on WRCR last week, and said the water in Rockland is indeed safe to use and drink…
The company is working to resolve the issue. SUEZ got two special permits from the New York State DEC to use copper sulfate to help reduce algae levels and the objectionable taste and odor.