In a historic crackdown on corruption, 70 current and former employees of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) have been charged with bribery and extortion.

Among those implicated is Angela Williams, a former NYCHA employee and the charges stem from a decade-long, $2 million “classic pay-for-play” corruption scheme.

The defendants, all of whom were working for NYCHA at the time, allegedly accepted cash payments from contractors in exchange for awarding NYCHA contracts.

This represents the largest number of federal bribery charges brought in a single day in Department of Justice history.

She allegedly used her position within NYCHA to extort contractors in exchange for work contracts.

The charges against Williams include counts of conspiracy, destruction of evidence, and false statements.

The corruption scandal has prompted calls for significant reforms to NYCHA’s no-bid contracting process.

This case underscores the urgent need for transparency and accountability in public service, and the severe consequences of corruption.

It serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining the highest standards of integrity in all aspects of public service.

The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation, which aims to identify, disrupt, and dismantle criminal organizations.

The defendants are facing significant prison sentences if convicted, with the maximum sentence for the charges being 10 years.

The mugshot of Angela Williams has not been released to the public and details on the case are still in just preliminary phase.

The case is ongoing, and the defendants are scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judges in Manhattan federal court.