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MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has indicted Ingrid Lewis-Martin, the former chief advisor to Mayor Eric Adams, on additional charges of bribery and conspiracy as of Thursday.
Back in December, Lewis-Martin, her son, and two real estate investors faced bribery charges, accused of receiving $100,000 to expedite construction project approvals. Further investigation revealed that Lewis-Martin allegedly accepted $75,000 in bribes from March 2022 to November 2024, raising the total to $175,000, according to prosecutors.
“Ingrid is certain of one thing—she has broken no laws, and she is not guilty. We will be requesting an expedited trial schedule,” stated Lewis-Martin’s lawyer, Arthur Aidala, prior to her surrendering herself.
One of the four indictments claims Lewis-Martin and her son, Glenn D. Martin II, collaborated to award contracts for migrant shelters to favored property owners. Additionally, they allegedly expedited permit approvals for a karaoke bar in Queens, with Martin II reportedly receiving $50,000 from a city contract, according to the D.A.’s office.
Lewis-Martin is also accused of coercing the DOT to retract its approval for the McGuiness Boulevard redesign, which included adding bike lanes. Prosecutors state she received $2,500, a feature in the TV series “Godfather of Harlem,” and thousands for catering a Gracie Mansion event.
Furthermore, one of the indictments alleges that Lewis-Martin and Jesse Hamilton, the Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, plotted to fast-track projects and allocate contracts to another co-defendant in return for home renovations.
Lewis-Martin was also accused of conspiring to get approval for a residential project for thousands of dollars for catering, again, at Gracie Mansion and City Hall, according to prosecutors.
“As alleged, Lewis-Martin consistently overrode the expertise of public servants so she could line her own pockets. While she allegedly received more than $75,000 in bribes and an appearance on a TV show, every other New Yorker lost out,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement.
Adams was indicted on bribery and corruption charges in a separate case last September. The charges were later dropped at the direction of the Department of Justice.
Adams’ campaign spokesperson Todd Shapiro said in a statement, “Mayor Adams has not been accused of any wrongdoing, and his focus remains on serving the 8.5 million New Yorkers by making our city safer and more affordable every day. While Ingrid Lewis-Martin no longer works for this administration, she has been a friend and colleague of the mayor for over 40 years, and he knows her as a devoted public servant; she has declared her innocence, and his prayers are with her and her family.”