To any East Meadow residents...... (New York, Hempstead: attorney, school district, associations)

[XL600R]

What is going on with Bob Zafonte, the President of the East Meadow Civic Association? I just came back from a snow bird trip south and heard he got arrested, but I cannot find any details.

[Peter B]

He is the epitome of white trash. This was a long time coming. From Newsday today

An investigator for the Town of Hempstead was charged Wednesday with more than two dozen felonies after he made "knowingly false" accusations of child abuse and financial fraud in letters to government agencies, prosecutors said.

In the letters, written over a five-year period, Robert Zafonte, 65, of East Meadow, targeted "enemies" -- people Zafonte believed "had wronged him," according to the Nassau County district attorney's office.

Zafonte was charged with 14 counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing and 14 counts of first-degree falsifying business records in connection with 10 separate letters he mailed over a five-year period, District Attorney Kathleen Rice said.

The retired New York City housing police sergeant also was charged with 32 misdemeanors for falsely reporting an incident and harassment, Rice said.

District attorney investigators arrested Zafonte on his way to work Wednesday morning. He is scheduled to be arraigned later Wednesday in First District Court in Hempstead.

The incidents took place from mid-2002 to November 2007, Rice said in a prepared statement.

The accusations in the letters were "knowingly false," Rice said. Those allegations included accusations of child abuse by East Meadow school district employees.

The first letter sent by Zafonte targeted an East Meadow school district employee after the suspect "unsuccessfully lobbied for his daughter to be hired by the district," Rice said. In that letter to the Nassau County Comptroller's office, Zafonte alleged the employee was "stealing money from the district" and depositing it into a Swiss bank account.

An investigation revealed no impropriety on behalf of the employee, Rice said.

[XL600R]

Well, he has finally slipped his head into the noose. I have no personal dealings with him so I do not care, nor do I have an opinion either way. Acquaintances here in town either despise the guy or revere him. I have several friends in the Chamber of Commerce who told me that he strong arms business owners in the name of his civic association. I keep my mouth shut and my ears open. The best way to be.

[LIguy257]

I grew up in EM but have absolutely no involvement/connections/interest in what the local government/associations do... That said, I do love a good "you get what you deserve story"... I this guy was as crooked and dirty as he sounds, then I'm glad he got busted. The things politicians think they can get away with astound me--some needs to put them in their place when they get crazy