Federal prosecutors are currently investigating a Brooklyn Council member, her sister, and the husband of a Democratic state Assembly member to determine if they were involved in a bribery scheme connected to a migrant shelter provider. This provider has notably secured $200 million in city contracts, as reported recently.
At the center of this inquiry is Democratic Councilwoman Farah Louis alongside her sister, Debbie Louis, who had been serving as an assistant secretary for New York City intergovernmental affairs under Governor Kathy Hochul. Both women were specifically mentioned in a search warrant obtained by the Associated Press, which seeks evidence of potential criminal activities.
Additionally implicated is Edu Hermelyn, who is married to state Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, the chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party. His name also appeared in the search warrant approved on March 19.
The investigation is focused on whether these three influential Brooklyn Democrats accepted kickbacks in return for actions favorable to BHRAGS Home Care Inc. Originally a Brooklyn-based home service provider, BHRAGS has transitioned into a provider of migrant shelter services.
BHRAGS received its inaugural contract to operate an emergency migrant shelter in 2022 amidst the city’s migrant crisis. Since then, it has been awarded over a dozen contracts for homeless services, accumulating more than $200 million in funding, according to reports by the Associated Press.
However, a Brooklyn insider and ally of Bichotte Hermelyn has suggested that the investigation might be politically motivated, casting a shadow of doubt on the intentions behind the probe.
“This is political persecution driven by the far-right, targeting immigrants and the leaders who stand with them,” the insider told The Post. “There are no charges at this time, and the facts will ultimately lead to this case being dropped on its merits.”
The feds executed several raids in connection with the probe, sources told The Post.
Debbie Louis was placed on leave immediately after the governor’s office was informed of the federal investigation, a Hochul spokesperson told The Post.
Sources familiar with the probe said the investigation does not involve her role at the governor’s office or state funds.
Attempts to reach Farah Louis and Bichotte Hermelyn were unsuccessful.
