Walden village board fires manager John Revella amid ongoing investigations
Board members cite financial concerns as Revella faces a federal tax fraud indictment and a separate Orange County housing program probe.
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The Village of Walden has terminated longtime Village Manager John Revella as he faces both a federal tax fraud case and a separate local investigation tied to the village’s housing program fund.
Village board members voted this week to fire Revella, citing financial concerns and uncertainty over how long the ongoing investigations could continue while the village continued paying him for work not being performed.
The move comes after federal prosecutors charged Revella with filing false tax returns. Investigators allege Revella hid more than $1.1 million in personal income from his private law practice over a four-year period by funneling money through a lawyer trust account and failing to report it to the IRS.
At the same time, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office has issued subpoenas in a separate investigation involving the village’s housing program fund — a financial program Revella oversaw.
Revella had previously been placed on paid administrative leave following the federal indictment.
In a statement to News 12, Revella said he was disappointed to learn the village terminated him after 16 years of service and said he “worked tirelessly on behalf of the Village of Walden.”
News 12 has reached out to Walden Mayor Becky Pearson for additional comment and information on the board’s decision.
