The Democratic candidate for Rockland County sheriff is accusing current sheriff, James Kralik, of illegally housing a convict at the county jail and is calling for a federal investigation into the matter.On Tuesday, Tim O'Neill sent a letter to the U.S. Attorney's office in White Plains requesting an immediate investigation into what he calls interstate abuse of taxpayer dollars by Sheriff Kralik's department.

O?Neill is referring to the case of Ben Zion Klein, of Monsey. Klein was convicted of vehicular homicide in Lancaster County Pennsylvania in 2004. O?Neill says Klein should have served his sentence in Pennsylvania. He says Kralik lobbied to have Klein housed at the Rockland County Jail at the expense of county taxpayers. O'Neill says letters obtained by his campaign show Kralik's department contacted a Pennsylvania judge to help secure the transfer.

?This scenario clearly demonstrates Sheriff Kralik's continued eagerness to trump the rules in providing special accommodation to special-interest groups,? said O?Neill.

Kralik says no taxpayer dollars were involved. In fact, he said the money to house Klein came from the orthodox community.