Catskills Residents Claim NYC Developer Manipulating Village Election

BLOOMINGBURG, N.Y. (AP) — FBI agents have raided buildings in a Catskills village where some residents claim a New York City developer is trying to manipulate an upcoming election.

Media outlets report that FBI agents conducted raids Thursday at more than 20 properties in the Sullivan County village of Bloomingburg, 65 miles northwest of New York City.

FBI officials confirm the raids were part of an ongoing investigation but aren't releasing details. The lawyer for developer Shalom Lamm says the FBI is reviewing allegations but feels confident they'll find no wrongdoing by his client.

Lamm has been given approval to build nearly 400 townhouses. Opponents of the project say more than 100 people who recently registered to vote have listed Lamm's properties as their home address but don't actually live there.

The opponents say he's trying to manipulate Tuesday's village election.