Federal Judge Vincent L Briccetti said he would not return the passport of one of the defendants accused of voter fraud in the Village of Bloomingburg case connected to the construction of the Villages at Chestnut Ridge Development.

The three defendants appeared in federal court in White Plains on March 15, and Volvy Smilowitz asked the judge if he could have his passport returned so that he could attend a wedding in Israel.  

The judge said, "The charges are too serious to allow defendants any international travel. You can ask, but there would be zero to no chance that I would grant a request to travel in this case."

The U.S. attorney prosecuting the case said in court that the investigation is "ongoing" and could result in revised charges. He asked for more time until the next court appearance at which time he believes the investigation will be wrapped up. 

The next court appearance is scheduled for May 25, 2017 at 2:30.

Shalom Lamm and his co-conspirators Kenneth Nakdimen and Smilowitz, were indicted by the federal government in a case that allegedly involved efforts to fraudulently influence elections in order to get approvals to build the large controversial housing development in the smallest village in the state.

Lamm, Nakdimen and Smilowitz are accused of bribing voters by offering payments, subsidies and other items of value to get non-residents of Bloomingburg to unlawfully register to vote. According to the indictment, “Lamm, for example agreed to pay an individual $500 for every voter that the individual procured and Lamm and Nakdimen’s real estate company ultimately paid the individual more than $30,000 per month for his efforts.”