Rockland County Sheriff Louis Falco Confirms Investigation Is Ongoing
By Tina Traster
Aidan Rowan, a 24-year-old rising Republican operative in Rockland County, is the subject of a complaint filed with the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office alleging submission of a fraudulent ballot in last June’s Stony Point Republican Committee’s primary election.
Rockland County Sheriff Louis Falco confirmed on Tuesday that the department is “looking into a complaint that was filed in my office,” when asked about Rowan as a target of the investigation.
Falco was unable to say what stage the investigation is in, but the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office said it is aware of public inquiries concerning Aidan Rowan and other individuals.
“At this time, no arrests have been made, and no criminal charges have been filed,” the DA’s spokesperson said in a written statement. “Because there has been no public confirmation by the investigating agency, our office cannot comment on whether an investigation exists or its possible status. If charges are filed or the matter is referred to our office, the RCDA will carefully review the evidence and proceed as appropriate under the law.”
Rumors have been swirling for several weeks about an investigation into possible ballot fraud. Sources say Rowan may have submitted a signed absentee ballot with a fraudulent signature. Sources say at least one former Stony Point woman, who moved from the town to New Jersey, told the Sheriff’s department she had not signed the ballot that had been submitted with her “signature.”
An anonymous letter sent to RCBJ, Rockland County legislators, Democratic candidates and others about three weeks ago claims Rowan, who chairs the Rockland Young Republicans and is a committee member “at large” on the Rockland County Republican Executive Committee, should be investigated for “possible criminal conduct.”
The writer says she’s worried that powerful Republicans, including Congressman Mike Lawler, are trying to quash the investigation, though she offers no proof. RCBJ reached out to Lawler’s Communications Director Scott Waters, who said, “There is zero merit to this smear.”
County Legislative Chair Jay Hood forwarded the letter to the District Attorney’s office, according to sources familiar with the situation.
The letter writer wrote, “From what I know, the Sheriff started investigating them both (she included Clarkstown’s Clerk Lauren Marie Wohl) in July 206 after receiving an allegation from the County. Since then, many people came forward and said they never signed absentee ballot applications or ballots that were connected to and/or submitted by Aidan Rowan or Lauren Marie Wohl.”
But the writer said she’s worried the investigation has been suppressed by Republican candidates running in the Nov. 3 election.
“People who know me know I will not be bullied or intimidated by baseless claims, especially anonymous accusations with no merit,” said Wohl.
RCBJ learned who the letter writer may be by comparing her handwriting on the envelop in which the letter was sent with closely matching a handwriting sample submitted on a designating petition carried by a Stony Point Committee member.
RCBJ reached out to that committee member, but she did not return the call.
The Stony Point Committee is wracked with internecine fighting, including a contentious June election that scored Rowan a seat. Some speculate anger over Rowan’s victory instigated insiders to expose potentially fraudulent ballots.
RCBJ reached out to Rowan through a proxy, but he declined to comment.
When Rowan ran in District 11 for the Town of Stony Point election, he said his campaign was focused on accountability, transparency, taxes, code enforcement and long-term affordability for younger families and retirees who want to remain in Stony Point. At the time of his campaign, he said Stony Point needs “change” at the committee level, emphasizing that many decisions are made without open discussion between committee members and voters.
Rowan, who grew up in Stony Point, recently purchased a house with his girlfriend in Nanuet for $575,000.
Rowan came on the political scene in 2021 in Stony Point when at 19 years old he was the youngest candidate to run for a seat on the town board. Brett Yagel, the former Mayor of Pomona and a challenger to Democrat Patrick Carroll for the New York State Assembly, was Rowan’s campaign manager. In a News 12 interview in 2021 said he’d worked for the National Senatorial Republican Committee in Georgia, was a campaign manager for Mauren Macardle Shulman and that he always campaigned for Republicans. Rowan did not win a council seat in the race.
According to records from the New York State Board of Elections, Rowan’s company, AMRowan Strategies LLC was paid $42,408.10 working for various campaigns, specifically Brett Yagel for NY, Citizens For Hoehmann, Vargus For Assembly, and Citizens For Lauren Marie.
Rowan also ran unsuccessfully in 2020 for the New York State Senate District 39.
From March to June 2023, Rowan served as District Intern for Congressman Mike Lawler.
In 2023, Rowan briefly became a member of the embattled board at Hi Tor Animal Shelter.
Rowan worked temporarily in the Clarkstown Town Clerk’s office to assist during tax season in 2025. His hiring was a point of contention with a former Board Member Mark Licker, then the only Democrat on the town council. Clarkstown Town Clerk Lauren Marie Wohl said she brought him in for a four-week period to help with office employment needs during the busy tax season, noting that she had worked with him previously and considered him an excellent worker.
Rowan also played a prominent role during the District 17 Congressional primary race – though it is unclear who he was representing when he attended a packed Rockland County Legislative meeting where the controversial Safety and Dignity For All Act was introduced by then primary Democrat candidate Beth Davidson. The proposed law, which the legislature never voted on, was aimed at making sure immigrant communities are protected. Lawler made a high-profile effort to oppose the law.
Rowan, who worked the crowds standing on line outside the full legislative chambers, told a reporter: “We have a sheriff’s department that’s working with ICE. We’re deporting people, and we should be. That’s what this county voted for.”
