{"id":164493,"date":"2025-08-21T18:53:11","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T18:53:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/164493\/"},"modified":"2025-08-21T18:53:11","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T18:53:11","slug":"mayor-adams-longtime-confidant-ingrid-lewis-martin-allegedly-accepted-over-75k-in-bribes-bombshell-indictments-reveal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/164493\/","title":{"rendered":"Mayor Adams\u2019 longtime confidant Ingrid Lewis-Martin allegedly accepted over $75K in bribes, bombshell indictments reveal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mayor Eric Adams\u2019 longtime right-hand, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, allegedly accepted more than $75,000 in\u00a0bribes in exchange for political favors<\/a>\u00a0while in her powerful role in City Hall, a bombshell set of new indictments revealed Thursday allege.<\/p>\n

Lewis-Martin\u00a0was hit with\u00a0bribery and conspiracy charges\u00a0in four sprawling criminal indictments detailing alleged corruption near the highest levels of Adams\u2019 administration, from crooked migrant crisis contracts to a bizarre payoff made in $10,000 worth of seafood.<\/p>\n

The indictments unsealed by the Manhattan District Attorney\u2019s Office come as Adams tries to salvage his re-election campaign, which has been floundering in the wake of his controversially dismissed federal corruption case.<\/p>\n

Ingrid Lewis-Martin arrives at Manhattan criminal court to be indicted on criminal charges on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in New York. AP<\/p>\n

Mayor Eric Adams\u2019 longtime right-hand, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, allegedly accepted more than $75,000 in bribes in exchange for political favors, according to a set of bombshell new indictments. AP<\/p>\n

Adams is not implicated in the new indictments against Lewis-Martin. But the charges against his longtime friend \u2014 and an incident involving another ally,\u00a0Winnie Greco, bafflingly\u00a0handing a reporter a potato chip bag filled with cash<\/a>\u00a0Wednesday\u00a0\u2014\u00a0fueled the scent of scandal surrounding his administration.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you were willing to pay Ms. Lewis-Martin, she was open for business,\u201d said Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Guy Tardanico during the former city official\u2019s arraignment.<\/p>\n

The indictments also charge Lewis-Martin\u2019s\u00a0raunchy DJ son Glen Martin II<\/a>, well-heeled sibling donors Gina and Tony Argento, developers Tian Ji Li and Yechiel Landau and her close pal Jesse Hamilton \u2013 a former state senator who now serves as the city\u2019s deputy commissioner for real estate services.<\/p>\n

Glen Martin II being walked into the courtroom on Thursday, August 21, 2025. Steven Hirsch<\/p>\n

Jesse Hamilton (grey suit) was arraigned today in Manhattan. He pleaded not guilty. Steven Hirsch<\/p>\n

All pleaded not guilty.<\/p>\n

One stunning indictment is focused on Lewis-Martin and others allegedly capitalizing on the migrant crisis, which saw the city shell out $7 billion to take care of asylum seekers.<\/p>\n

Lewis-Martin, who served as Adams\u2019 chief adviser, allegedly tapped her bestie Hamilton to take over migrant shelter contracts and steer them toward people who were paying her off, the indictment says.<\/p>\n

She, with her son, allegedly worked to help property owners connected to Li secure lease agreements with the city for housing migrants, the indictment states.<\/p>\n

At one point, Lewis-Martin bluntly told Hamilton to help Li, court papers allege.<\/p>\n

\u201cI need those done\u2026whatever site TJ wants, I need him to get them. Because that\u2019s our f\u2014ing people,\u201d Lewis-Martin said, according to the indictment.<\/p>\n

Tian Ji Li was arraigned on Thursday, August 21, 2025. Steven Hirsch<\/p>\n

Tian Ji Li being led into the courtroom on Thursday, August 21, 2025. Steven Hirsch<\/p>\n

Li received 10% of a $12 million migrant shelter contract, the indictment alleged.<\/p>\n

He allegedly wired $50,000 of that to Lewis-Martin\u2019s son, according to court papers.<\/p>\n

Lewis-Martin also leaned on FDNY and Department of Buildings officials to help fast track approvals for Li\u2019s karaoke bar V Show in Queens, the indictment contends.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhoever responded made an error. Please have a different set of eyes review the Plan,\u201d Lewis-Martin allegedly texted the FDNY commissioner.<\/p>\n

Lewis-Martin was previously indicted late last year on a separate slate of bribery charges, accusing her of taking $100,000 to cover the cost of a Porsche for her son, Glenn. Her son, Glenn, is next to her. Steven Hirsch for the the NYPost<\/p>\n

Ingrid Lewis-Martin, along with her lawyer Arthur Aidala, holds a press conference to discuss charges against her. Matthew McDermott<\/p>\n

Another indictment contends a controversial revamp of McGuinness Boulevard in Brooklyn was actually Lewis-Martin doing the bidding of the Argentos, who opposed the removal of lanes of traffic.<\/p>\n

Lewis-Martin convinced the mayor\u2019s office to redraw their plans, over the objections of Make McGuinness Safe, an advocacy group that supported plans to add bike lanes and pedestrian spaces on the street.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do not care what they say,\u201d Lewis-Martin allegedly texted Gina Argento about the group. \u201cWe are ignoring them and continuing with our plan. They can kiss my ass.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Argentos allegedly returned the favor by paying Lewis-Martin $2,500 \u2014 and arranging a speaking role for her on the Hulu show \u201cGodfather of Harlem,\u201d which filmed on their stages, an indictment states.<\/p>\n

Ingrid Lewis-Martin pictured in the Hulu show \u201cGodfather of Harlem,\u201d with actor, Forest Whitaker. HULU<\/p>\n

The Argentos allegedly arranged for Lewis-Martin\u2019s speaking role on the show. HULU<\/p>\n

Prosecutors alleged Lewis-Martin used her position to make money even on small matters, such as allegedly intervening with the city Department of Buildings to help with renovation plans on an unnamed person\u2019s private home.<\/p>\n

The thankful homeowner paid off Lewis-Martin with $10,000 worth of free seafood for events at Gracie Mansion and City Hall, according to an indictment.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m eating one of your crab cakes as I speak to you,\u201d she allegedly told the homeowner.<\/p>\n

Gina Argento was arraigned on Thursday, August 21, 2025. Steven Hirsch<\/p>\n

Tony Argento at his arraignment on Thursday, August 21, 2025. Steven Hirsch<\/p>\n

The fresh set of corruption allegations comes as Adams tries to rehabilitate himself with New York City voters after a scandal-scarred first term that has tanked his approval rating, leaving him with an uphill battle at winning reelection.<\/p>\n

Adams, who has been in a distant fourth place in recent polls, has refused to distance himself from his decades-old friend \u2014\u00a0allowing her to volunteer<\/a>\u00a0for his independent run for mayor.<\/p>\n

The mayor\u2019s campaign spokesman, Todd Shapiro, emphasized Adams has not been accused of wrongdoing.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWhile 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,\u201d Shapiro said. \u201cMayor Adams also recognizes that Jesse Hamilton has pleaded not guilty, and like anyone accused, he is entitled to the presumption of innocence.\u201d<\/p>\n

City Hall spokeswoman Kayla Mamelak said Adams remains focused on governing New York City.<\/p>\n

Glenn Martin II, right, poses with a 2023 Porsche paid for with bribe money as seen in a photo included in court documents released Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, regarding bribery charges against Ingrid Martin-Lewis. Obtained by the Post<\/p>\n

\u201cMayor Adams was not involved in this matter and has not been accused of or implicated in any wrongdoing,\u201d she said. \u201cHe remains focused on what has always been his priority \u2014 serving the 8.5 million New Yorkers who call this city home and making their city safer and more affordable every single day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lewis-Martin was previously indicted late last year<\/a>\u00a0on a separate slate of bribery charges, accusing her of taking $100,000 to cover the cost of a Porsche for her son, who, along with two hoteliers, was named in that indictment.<\/p>\n

Days prior, she resigned from her role in City Hall.<\/p>\n

The fresh set of corruption allegations comes as Adams tries to rehabilitate himself with New York City voters after a scandal-scarred first term. Paul Martinka<\/p>\n

She has repeatedly maintained that she has not broken the law \u2013 and her attorney Arthur Aidala on Thursday cast the new indictments as \u201clawfare.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHer only so-called \u2018offense\u2019 was fulfilling her duty\u2014helping fellow citizens navigate the City\u2019s outdated and often overwhelming bureaucracy,\u201d Aidala said. \u201cAt no point did she receive a single dollar or any personal benefit for her assistance.<\/p>\n

\u201cYet, the District Attorney seeks to portray a dedicated and honest public servant as a criminal. This is not justice\u2014it is a distortion of the truth and a troubling example of politically motivated \u2018lawfare.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Mayor Eric Adams\u2019 longtime right-hand, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, allegedly accepted more than $75,000 in\u00a0bribes in exchange for political favors\u00a0while…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":164494,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5122],"tags":[5229,18057,13239,17628,5289,5248,405,403,5226,5225,5228,5227,67,586,132,5230,68,1154,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-164493","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-york","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-bribery","10":"tag-city-hall","11":"tag-corruption","12":"tag-eric-adams","13":"tag-metro","14":"tag-new-york","15":"tag-new-york-city","16":"tag-newyork","17":"tag-newyorkcity","18":"tag-ny","19":"tag-nyc","20":"tag-united-states","21":"tag-united-states-of-america","22":"tag-unitedstates","23":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","24":"tag-us","25":"tag-us-news","26":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115068272948831978","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/164493","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=164493"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/164493\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/164494"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=164493"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=164493"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=164493"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}