ANDRE WALLACE BAILS OUT MAJOR DRUG KINGPIN
FOR $1 MILLION-DOLLARS.
WHITE PLAINS, NY (July 30, 2019) Andre Wallace, the former Mount Vernon City Council President who now claims he should be its Mayor, mortgaged One Million dollars' worth of his Mount Vernon real estate empire to bail out Jose Luperon, a major drug kingpin.According to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, which successfully prosecuted Luperon, he controlled the sale of crack cocaine in upper Manhattan. When Luperon was arrested in January of 2017, the NYPD also seized a million dollars in cash. Luperon remained in jail until his $1 million-dollar bail was posted by Andre Wallace. Luperon remained free on the bail posted by Wallace until his sentencing in March of 2018, at which time the bonds posted by Wallace were released.
Wallace has never explained his connection to Luperon or why he bailed out the convicted drug dealer. In a separate Court filing, Wallace falsely represented under oath that the bonds he posted were for a construction project.
According to court papers filed today by Mayor Richard Thomas, on April 17, 2017, after Luperon's arrest, Wallace pledged three properties he owns to Lexington National Insurance to secure a $1 million bail bond for Luperon. The three Mount Vernon properties Wallace pledged for the drug trafficker's release included his home at 175 Hillside Ave. and properties at 28 E. 1st St. and 30 E. 1st St.
When given an opportunity to explain why Wallace would show so much devotion and support to a drug trafficker, he lied. In a sworn affidavit filed by Wallace in an unrelated court case, Wallace falsely claimed that a mortgage he had for 30 E. 1st St. was for a construction project.
Mayor Thomas' court papers expressed concern that Wallace could become Mayor if the Court grants Wallace's request. He asked judge Ecker to consider whether the court should allow as "acting mayor" a man who, not only lied in court about his finances but pledged $1 million to bail out a drug trafficker.
Mayor Thomas also argued that Wallace's support for Luperon should disqualify Wallace from having command or oversight of the Mount Vernon Police Department.
"This court should honor the negotiated agreement I made with the Attorney General and allow me to resign on September 30, 2019," Mayor Thomas stated in his court papers. "On that date, the current City Council president, Janice Duarte, would assume the office of Mayor, and serve until a successor is elected in the Nov. 2019 General Election. In the interim, I would work with Ms. Duarte to assure a smooth transition."
"An independent federal investigation into Wallace's $1,000,000 ties to drug kingpin Jose Luperon ought to be conducted immediately," Mayor Thomas added.
The next court hearing on the matter is Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Supreme Courthouse in White Plains.
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