RAMAPO – An appeal effort by deposed Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence was slapped down by a three-judge appeals panel on Monday.

The U.S. Court of Appeals panel unanimously rejected each of St. Lawrence's five claims, which included insufficient evidence, the length of his sentence and alleged juror misconduct.

St. Lawrence and his lawyers filed the appeal of his conviction and sentence in 2017.

In rendering their decision, the judges referred to St. Lawrence's comment that it would take "a magician" to reach the numbers he gave to Moody's Investors Services. Such statements were "sufficient to support St. Lawrence's convictions."

APPEAL: St. Lawrence asks judge to toss fraud conviction

CONVICTION: Ramapo supervisor found guilty of fraud, conspiracy

St. Lawrence, Ramapo's supervisor from 2000 to May 2016, was convicted by a federal jury on May 19 of 20 counts of securities and wire fraud, and conspiracy, in a scheme to finance the town baseball stadium.

The federal case focused on the complex concept that he ripped off investors in connection with fabricated financial figures and lies about the sales of municipal bonds.

U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel sentenced St. Lawrence to 30 months, a term that could be shortened by 54 days per year for good behavior under federal rules, which prohibit parole. She fined him $75,000.

Last March, St. Lawrence surrendered to federal prison officials in Pennsylvania to begin his 30-month term for fraud.