Ingrid Lewis-Martin, who was once Adams’ chief adviser, and her son were indicted on charges of taking part in a bribery conspiracy scheme, officials said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The former top aide<\/a> to New York Mayor Eric Adams<\/a> was charged with receiving bribes in a classic “quid pro quo” scheme with a real estate business that financially benefited her and her son, officials said Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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,” DA Alvin Bragg said in a filing in state Supreme Court in Manhattan. Supreme Court is a trial court in New York state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lewis-Martin, Martin and two real estate investors, Raizada Vaid and Mayank Dwivedi, pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan courtroom Thursday afternoon to a variety of charges linked to the allegations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors called Lewis-Martin “the second most senior person in City Hall” and said she “abused her position and sold her influence to enrich herself and her family.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “The indictment unsealed today can be summarized in three words \u2014 quid pro quo,” Bragg told reporters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Today\u2019s indictment alleges and portrays a clear picture: ‘You do this for me and I will do that for you.’ It was not what is in the best interest of the city of New York and those who live here.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lewis-Martin had been the longtime chief adviser to Adams until she abruptly resigned Sunday, another tumultuous moment for Adams, the mayor of America’s biggest city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lewis-Martin and her son shared a joint bank account that was used to buy him a 2023 Porsche, support his DJ business and help finance his plans to open a Chick-fil-A franchise, officials said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The defendants communicated using encrypted apps with “coded language” to ask for help inside City Hall, Bragg said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “This was an unfettered, on-call quid pro quo arrangement,” Bragg said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lewis-Martin’s attorney, Arthur Aidala, scoffed at the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “The district attorney\u2019s office\u2019s interpretation of these facts will make no sense to any New York jury,” Aidala said 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.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lewis-Martin and her son were charged with conspiracy, receiving bribes and money laundering. Vaid and Dwivedi were charged with bribery and conspiracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “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 added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A federal grand jury indicted Adams\u2002<\/a>three months ago on bribery, campaign finance and conspiracy charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adams accused of receiving lavish gift and illegal campaign contributions<\/a> from foreign nationals, including Turkish interests, to help Turkey\u2019s government bypass New York City safety guidelines<\/a> to open a new consulate building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The case against Lewis-Martin has no connection to Adams, prosecutors said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “The mayor is not a target of our investigation, and we do not have evidence of criminal conduct by the mayor,” Bragg said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Adams administration has seen a mass exodus in recent weeks of officials and advisers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Police Commissioner Edward Caban resigned Sept. 12\u2002<\/a>amid a federal probe into the police department\u2019s nightclub enforcement, according to sources familiar with the matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adams’ chief counsel, Lisa Zornberg,\u2002resigned Sept. 14<\/a> in the wake of mounting legal issues for her boss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n City Schools Chancellor David Banks was set to retire and leave office late this year but instead\u2002hastened his departure<\/a> to mid-October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sheena Wright, Adams\u2019 top deputy mayor, resigned Oct. 8<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n