NEW ROCHELLE, NY (May 31, 2026) — The New Rochelle City Council voted unanimously in October 2025 to appoint John Earvin, a convicted federal felon, to the city’s newly restructured Veterans Advisory Committee, apparently without any public disclosure of his 2015 wire fraud conviction.
Earvin, now in his late 70’s, pleaded guilty on June 19, 2015, at age 67, to one count of wire fraud in the Southern District of New York. He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer to three years of probation, including six months of home confinement, 600 hours of community service, and ordered to pay restitution of $2,000 per month. As president of the United Federation of Law Enforcement Officers, which represents Special Inspectors employed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Earvin diverted union dues from the organization’s bank account for his personal use between February 2007 and April 2010, making hundreds of ATM withdrawals at off-track betting facilities and other locations. He defrauded the union and its members of approximately $28,012.
The appointment was made under Resolution 2025-163, adopted at the October 21, 2025 City Council meeting by a 7-0 vote. City Manager Wilfredo Melendez recommended all seven appointees to the reconstituted committee, which had been restructured under Legislation 2025-98 adopted June 17, 2025. Members serve three-year terms running through Oct. 31, 2028. The resolution noted the appointments had been previously discussed in Executive Session.
The resolution does not identify which council member nominated Earvin. Talk of the Sound has asked Council Member David Peters, who represents District 3, where Earvin ran for office and operates his business, whether he was responsible for the nomination.
Under the revised ordinance, VAC membership is open to New Rochelle residents who currently or previously served in the armed forces or who have significant professional experience in veterans’ programming and services. The ordinance contains no background check requirement.
Earvin is not a stranger to city institutions. Prior to his federal conviction, he was the 2011 Republican candidate for City Council in District 3, losing to Democrat Jared Rice by a margin of 80% to 20%. He was also associated with training personnel who worked as general school aides — the district’s term for security guards — at the City School District of New Rochelle during a period that Talk of the Sound documented extensively as marked by lax oversight, unlicensed guards, and numerous problem hires.
Talk of the Sound covered each stage of the federal case at the time — the March 2015 indictment, the June 2015 guilty plea, and the November 2015 sentencing.
It is not known whether the Mayor, City Council, or City Manager were aware of Earvin’s conviction when he was appointed. Talk of the Sound submitted questions to city officials prior to publication.
The City of New Rochelle has rarely if ever responded to media inquiries from this publication over the past two years, and has engaged in a sustained pattern of obstructing public records requests. This article will be updated if a response is received.
This article was prepared with the assistance of AI tools under the direction and editing of Robert Cox.
Have information about this story? Email robertcox@talkofthesound.com (preferred) or contact via WhatsApp: +353 089 972 0669.
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