(White Plains, NY) — Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced that Ganga “Rudy” Persaud (DOB 03/20/52) of 312 Lincoln Avenue, Mount Vernon, New York, plead guilty today to the entire indictment that charged him with:
one count of Perjury in the First Degree, a class “D” Felony,
one count of Official Misconduct, a class “A” Misdemeanor.
On November 9, 2010, the defendant, who at the time was employed by the City of Mount Vernon as a Supervisor in the Department of Public Works, testified falsely during an “Examination Before Trial” in a civil matter against the City of Mount Vernon.
The civil action pertains to injuries sustained when the civil complainant tripped and fell on the sidewalk located in front of 245 Summit Avenue in Mount Vernon, alleging negligence, recklessness and carelessness on the part of the City of Mount Vernon and the owner of the premises at 245 Summit Avenue.
The defendant, in his capacity as Supervisor for the Department of Public Works for the City of Mount Vernon, testified falsely in the proceeding as a witness on behalf of the City of Mount Vernon by representing that he never had conversations with, or was paid by, the homeowner to repair the sidewalk in front of her house.
In fact, the defendant had discussed with the homeowner the cost of repairing the sidewalk, had referred a contractor to the homeowner and was paid by the homeowner for the sidewalk repairs.
The defendant in fact received two separate checks from the homeowner for the repair work in the amount of $1,650.00 payable to cash and the second of which was in the amount of $1,000.00 and was payable to the defendant.
An investigation by the District Attorney’s office was opened based on a complaint brought by the City of Mount Vernon’s Corporation Counsel.
After the defendant’s plea, District Attorney Janet DiFiore reiterated an earlier statement: “This defendant was a Supervisor in the Department of Public Works and put his self interest ahead of the City of Mount Vernon’s by taking money from a homeowner to repair a sidewalk and then lying about it. He is now being held accountable. Actions like those severely undermine the public’s confidence in government. Public employees should not act with impunity; this defendant’s behavior was more than criminal, it was an affront to the taxpayers who expect honest services from the City’s workforce.”
Sentencing will be on October 19th, 2011.
The defendant faces a maximum of seven years in state prison.
Assistant District Attorney Shara Abraham of the Public Integrity Bureau is prosecuting the case.