FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 24, 2017
Xiomara Lopez (845) 638-5013

D.A. ZUGIBE: FORMER ROCKLAND COUNTY BUS OPERATOR
CHARGED IN ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION SCHEME
Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe today announced the indictment of former bus
company owner Richard Brega (DOB 06/12/67) of 15 Tomlins View, Tomkins Cove, New York for
steering thousands of dollars in political contributions to the 2013 primary election campaign of an
incumbent Rockland County legislator seeking the Office of County Executive. The defendant was
charged by a Rockland County Grand Jury with ten counts of Falsifying Business Records in the First
Degree, class “E” Felonies. On July 24, 2017, Brega was arrested on the indictment by detectives of
the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office. The arrest is the culmination of a joint investigation
by the Public Corruption Task Force and the New York State Board of Elections Division of Election
Law Enforcement.
“Hiding the true source of campaign donations from election officials and the public fundamentally
impacts the transparency of our democratic system of governance,” said District Attorney Zugibe.
“Working closely with the Public Corruption Task Force, my office will continue to uncover illicit
schemes that evade campaign finance laws and prosecute those who seek to facilitate illegal political
contributions.”
According to the indictment, between April 2013 and August 2013, Brega used straw donors to
unlawfully funnel more than $40,000 in cash to the County Executive campaign of Town of Ramapo
Legislator Ilan Schoenberger.
Brega is accused of recruiting ten individuals to contribute thousands of dollars each to the “Friends
of Ilan Schoenberger” campaign fund. According to the charges, the defendant provided the straw
donors the contribution amounts in cash. The ten individuals included employees of Brega's
company, Brega Transportation, as well as the defendant's family members and friends.
The campaign contribution limit for an individual donating to Legislator Schoenberger in 2013 was
$9,221. The straw donations were reported by “Friends of Ilan Schoenberger” to the New York State
It should be noted that an indictment is merely an accusation and that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY • ROCKLAND COUNTY
Thomas P. Zugibe, District Attorney
www.RocklandCountyDA.com

 Board of Elections as individual contributions of the ten straw donors. Brega is accused of causing
those records to be false, as the money that was funneled into the Schoenberger account was his own.
A “straw donation” involves the making of a surreptitious donation by illegally using another
person’s (the “straw donor’s”) name.
Arraignment on the indictment is pending.
Brega faces a maximum of four years in state prison.
Executive Assistant District Attorney Richard Kennison Moran is prosecuting the case.

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Note to Editors: Press release e-version posted on RocklandCountyDA.com