Ex-Eric Adams top adviser, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, others, indicted in City Hall corruption probe that included role on 'Blue Bloods', DA says

A former top adviser to New York City Mayor Eric Adams took more than $75,000 in bribes in exchange for pushing through permits for a Queens karaoke bar, squashing a Brooklyn bike lane project in exchange for a promised spot on the TV show "Blue Bloods" and fast-tracking development projects with a former Brooklyn state senator, a newly unsealed indictment in Manhattan State Supreme Court shows.

Ingrid Lewis-Martin, 64, of Brooklyn, who was previously charged with her son, Glenn Martin, in December for allegedly accepting more than $100,000 in bribes, was led into the courtroom in handcuffs wearing a gold pantsuit, followed by six co-defendants. Two businesses connected to the defendants were also charged with being part of the bribery scheme.

"We allege that Ingrid Lewis-Martin engaged in classic bribery conspiracies that had a deep and wide-ranging impact on City government," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement. "As alleged, Lewis-Martin consistently overrode the expertise of public servants so she could line her own pockets. ... Hardworking city employees were undermined, businesses and developers who followed the law were pushed aside, and the public was victimized by corruption at the highest levels of government."

Lewis-Martin pleaded not guilty to four counts of conspiracy in the fourth degree and four counts of receiving a bribe in the second degree.

During her court appearance, the former top adviser jerked away from a police detective who led her in handcuffs and appeared annoyed as she awaited her arraignment.

"Her only 'offense' was fulfilling her duty — helping fellow citizens navigate the City's outdated and often overwhelming bureaucracy," Lewis-Martin's defense attorney Arthur Aidala said in a statement. "At no point did she receive a single dollar or any personal benefit for her assistance."
The lawyer called the charges "politically motivated 'lawfare,'" and referred to his client as "a dedicated and honest public servant."

Alleged corruption scheme going back years

Prosecutors charge that Lewis-Martin’s alleged corruption scheme went as far back as 2022 when she intervened on behalf of television producers Gina and Tony Argento and their company, Broadway Stages.

In their case, Lewis-Martin pushed the city to ignore recommendations from the city’s Department of Transportation on the traffic redesign of McGuinness Boulevard in Greenpoint, Brooklyn — a street that acts as the main thoroughfare for their business, the indictment shows.

"We are ignoring them and continuing with our plan. They can kiss my [expletive]," prosecutors said Lewis-Martin wrote to the Argentos.

In exchange for the "illegal and inappropriate intervention," prosecutors said Lewis-Martin received $2,500 in cash, $10,000 in catering services at Gracie Mansion and a speaking role in their production "Godfather of Harlem," which made her eligible for membership with the Screen Actors Guild. Tony Argento also promised to act as her agent and get her a speaking role on "Blue Bloods" and additional screen time on "Godfather," court documents show.

The Argentos pleaded not guilty at their arraignment and were released without bail. They will have to turn over their passports to their lawyers and inform prosecutors if they travel within the United States for more than seven days.

"This is not the kind of case that anyone would run from," defense attorney George Stamboulidis told the judge.

Lewis-Martin also worked with Queens business owner Tian Ji Li to steer city contracts to buildings whose owners he represented, prosecutors charge. As the city's emergency housing stock became overwhelmed in the city's migrant crisis, Li acted as an intermediary between Lewis-Martin and the property owners to secure multimillion-dollar contracts, according to the charges.

For his part, Li received more than $1.2 million, or 10% of a $12 million city shelter contract, records show.

Construction and fire permits

Later, prosecutors said Lewis-Martin allegedly pressured the FDNY and the Department of Buildings to approve construction and fire permits for V Show, a karaoke bar owned by Li. The bar business was also charged as being part of the bribery scheme.

Li, through a Chinese interpreter, pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors said that in August 2023, Li transferred $53,000 he had received from the shelter deal into the account for his bar. Days later, according to court papers, he called Lewis-Martin and then 20 minutes later wired $50,000 to her son, which he used as a down payment for a $100,000 Porsche Panamera.

Martin pleaded not guilty to two counts of bribery in the second degree and two counts of fourth-degree conspiracy.

In February 2024, Lewis-Martin intervened again on Li’s behalf to renew the shelter contract, leaning on city agencies to push the deal through, according to prosecutors.

She told former Brooklyn State Sen. Jesse Hamilton, a deputy commissioner for Real Estate Services at the city Department of Citywide Administrative Services, to prioritize Li’s sites, prosecutors said.

"I want you all to go back to the sites for TJ Li ... I need those done ... whatever site TJ wants, I need him to get them. Because that’s our [expletive] people," Lewis-Martin allegedly said.

Hamilton was also charged with helping to steer city contracts for another emergency migrant shelter on behalf of Brooklyn developer Yechiel Landau.

Hamilton allegedly used his position to help Landau get full ownership over a subsidized Bronx apartment building and advance another Housing & Preservation Development agency project in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

"I’m gonna speak to the mayor and then that’s it, so we’re just gonna push for December and we’re gonna keep it going ... we’re gonna, we gotta get that place [HPD] under control, so when we [expletive] tell them something, we expect them to make that [expletive] move," prosecutors said she told Landau.

For their help, Landau used his companies to perform renovations and upgrades to homes owned by Landau and Lewis-Martin, prosecutors said.

Landau and Hamilton, who were arraigned together, both pleaded not guilty. Hamilton was charged with one count of conspiracy in the fourth degree. Landau was charged with conspiracy and bribing a public servant.

Mark Pollard, the lawyer for Hamilton, who still holds his city position, also said he believes the case to be politically motivated.

Still, Pollard said the former senator is "strongly considering" resigning from his government job.

Although Adams was not implicated in any of the indictments, Lewis-Martin was once considered the right hand to the mayor and her charges could further hobble his wobbly reelection campaign.

Even Adams' strongest polling numbers show him with just 14% support among city voters.

Multiple investigations

Accusations of corruption have dogged Adams' administration. He was indicted in Manhattan federal court in September for a long-running scheme to provide municipal favors to Turkish businesspeople in exchange for first-class airfare and free and discounted hotel accommodation. Those charges were dropped after the Trump administration's Justice Department intervened, arguing the case was politically motivated and interfered with the mayor's ability to enforce the president's aggressive immigration policy.

Federal investigators continue to probe two of his former police commissioners, his former school chancellor, top law enforcement advisers and his former deputy mayor.

On Thursday, a top campaign adviser, Winnie Greco, handed a local news reporter a potato chip bag with cash stuffed in it, according to reports.

Adams defended his administration in an emailed statement.

"I have not been accused of any wrongdoing, and my focus remains on serving the 8.5 million New Yorkers by making our city safer and more affordable every day," he said. "While Ingrid Lewis-Martin no longer works for this administration, she has been a friend and colleague for over 40 years, and I know her as a devoted public servant; she has declared her innocence, and my prayers are with her and her family. I also recognize that Jesse Hamilton has pleaded not guilty, and like anyone accused, he is entitled to the presumption of innocence. My commitment to New Yorkers is unwavering — no distraction will ever take my eyes off the ball dedicated to this great city we all call home."