According to officials Thursday, the former top adviser to New York City Mayor Eric Adams was accused of accepting bribes from a real estate company in a traditional “quid pro quo” arrangement that benefited her and her son monetarily.
In a Manhattan Supreme Court filing, DA Alvin Bragg claimed that Ingrid Lewis-Martin “engaged in a long-running bribery, money laundering and conspiracy scheme” to “illegally influence Department of Buildings and other city decisions in exchange for more than $100,000 in cash and benefits for herself and her son, Glenn Martin II.”
In a Manhattan courtroom Thursday afternoon, Lewis-Martin, Martin, and two real estate investors, Mayank Dwivedi and Raizada Vaid, entered not guilty pleas to a number of offenses related to their purported pay-to-play scam.
Lewis-Martin was described by prosecutors as “the second most senior person in City Hall” who “abused her position and sold her influence to enrich herself and her family.”
“Quid pro quo” is the best way to describe the indictment that was revealed today, Bragg told reporters.
It is evident from today’s indictment that ‘you do this for me and I will do that for you.’ It was not in the best interests of the people who reside here and the city of New York.
Before her sudden resignation on Sunday, the defendant had served as Adams’ longtime chief adviser, bringing yet another turbulent period to the mayor of the largest city in America.
According to officials, Lewis-Martin and her son used a joint bank account to support his DJ career, purchase a 2023 Porsche, and assist in funding his aspirations to build a Chick-fil-A franchise.
According to Bragg, the defendants used “coded language” and encrypted applications to interact inside City Hall in order to request assistance.
“This was an unfettered, on-call quid pro quo arrangement,” Bragg stated.
Arthur Aidala, Lewis-Martin’s lawyer, mocked the Manhattan DA’s case against his client.
“No New York jury will understand the district attorney’s office’s interpretation of these facts,” Aidala stated in a statement. “To think a high-ranking city official would take a bribe in the form of a check and deposit it into their own bank account defies common sense.”
Lewis-Martin and her son were accused of money laundering, conspiracy, and taking bribes. Bribery and conspiracy charges were brought against Vaid and Dwivedi.
“We look forward to the citizens of the city of New York, who Ingrid has served so admirably for decades, clearing her name after a trial,” Aidala said.
Three months ago, a federal grand jury accused Adams on counts of conspiracy, bribery, and campaign finance.
In order to help the government circumvent New York City safety regulations and open a new consulate building, the mayor allegedly accepted extravagant gifts and unlawful campaign contributions from foreigners, including Turkish interests.
Prosecutors say Mayor Adams has nothing to do with this Manhattan DA case against Lewis-Martin.
“The mayor is not a target of our investigation and we do not have evidence of criminal conduct by the mayor,” Bragg stated.
Officials and advisors have been leaving the Adams administration in large numbers in recent weeks.
According to people acquainted with the situation, NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban resigned on September 12 amid a federal investigation of the department’s regulation of nightclubs.
Lisa Zornberg, Adams’ chief attorney, resigned on September 14 due to growing legal problems for her boss.
Originally scheduled to retire and leave office late this year, New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks expedited his retirement to mid-October.
On October 8, Sheena Wright, the top deputy mayor of Adams, resigned.
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