Former aides and associates of New York City Mayor Eric Adams have been indicted on charges related to steering city contracts to favored real estate developers in exchange for bribes, according to four new indictments announced by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.
The indictments name Ingrid Lewis-Martin, former chief aide to Mayor Adams, and Jesse Hamilton, deputy commissioner of real estate services at the Department of Citywide Administrative Services. Prosecutors allege that between March 2022 and November 2024, Lewis-Martin accepted $75,000 in bribes as part of a scheme involving eight co-defendants, including Hamilton. Of the alleged bribe money, $50,000 was reportedly funneled into an account controlled by her son, Glenn Martin II. Other alleged perks included catered food at Gracie Mansion and a speaking role on a television show.
Lewis-Martin had previously faced indictment in December over claims she intervened on behalf of hotel developers seeking construction approvals in exchange for more than $100,000 in bribes to herself and her son.
The latest charges focus on interactions with private real estate companies. The complaints accuse Lewis-Martin of using her position to assist developers Tian Ji Li and Yechiel Landau. According to prosecutors, Lewis-Martin pushed Hamilton and other officials to direct contracts for asylum seeker shelter sites toward property owners favored by Li. As part of these arrangements, Li allegedly received 10 percent of contract values. In one instance cited by prosecutors, the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation entered into a $12 million licensing agreement with one such owner in February 2023; Li reportedly received $1.2 million from this deal and transferred $50,000 to Martin II’s account.
The indictment details communications between Lewis-Martin and Hamilton about prioritizing properties preferred by Li. On May 25, 2024, Lewis-Martin told Hamilton: “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 fucking people,” according to the indictment.
She followed up days later: “Can you make sure that when I’m sending you a fucking site, [John Doe # 2] finds the site I fucking send you,” with Hamilton responding on June 25: “TJ, he’s, he’s first. He’s first in line.”
Lewis-Martin is also accused of helping expedite approvals for a karaoke bar project developed by Li in Queens.
Another indictment alleges that Lewis-Martin intervened on behalf of developer Yechiel Landau regarding projects at several locations including Red Hook (498 Columbia Street), the Bronx (1211 Southern Boulevard), and Jamaica (Queens). At the Bronx location—a city-subsidized property—she allegedly pressured the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) to approve refinancing and allow Landau to buy out a previous investor before assigning a project manager tasked with preserving affordable housing at the building.
In return for her assistance, Landau allegedly paid for over $5,000 worth of renovations at Lewis-Martin’s home. During this period her sister stayed temporarily at Hamilton’s residence; Landau paid for cleaning and repainting there as well.
Messages described in the indictment indicate that Lewis-Martin coordinated closely with both city officials and developers regarding project approvals. On July 12, 2023 she asked then-Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer to briefly leave a meeting with Mayor Adams about hate crimes so she could join an HPD call concerning one of Landau’s projects: “I know the mayor is major priority but if you could skip out for second. They had been bugging the stuffings out of me,” she wrote.
She later assured Landau: “I promise you that your project is priority.” When an HPD employee resisted closing financing on the project in December—a process involving various city subsidy programs—Lewis-Martin’s son replied: “[Expletive] him we make it close.”
Prosecutors say she sent repeated messages urging HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. to resolve outstanding issues: “I need to know what they are missing which is preventing them from moving forward. Thank you,” she wrote July 28; “We need to get it done…December,” she added next day.
Lewis-Martin also met privately with Landau and his consultant without HPD present; she told them: “We’re gonna…get that place [HPD] under control…so when we [expletive] tell them something we expect them to make that shit move…I’m gonna speak to the Mayor…and we’re gonna keep it going.”
Despite only a few projects closing each year from hundreds in HPD’s pipeline—the Red Hook project closed as planned last December.
Separately, Lewis-Martin allegedly instructed Hamilton at DCAS to help secure a leasing agreement for another developer-linked apartment building intended as a migrant shelter; this contract ultimately did not proceed.
Text messages cited include references by Lewis-Martin arranging renovations at her home (“Ah we will get it done I called my contractors…”), expressing excitement about improved living conditions for her sister (“I am excited that soon you will live in a quality home…”), and coordinating temporary accommodations through Hamilton (“Jesse’s place will be ready…”).
Another set of charges involves Gina and Anthony Argento—owners of Broadway Stages film studio—who allegedly sought help from Lewis-Martin opposing changes proposed by DOT for McGuinness Boulevard that would have reduced vehicle traffic near their business. In exchange they allegedly paid her $2,500 directly plus $10,000 catering costs at Gracie Mansion events; they also arranged a speaking role on TV series “Godfather of Harlem” with promises for additional roles including “Blue Bloods.”
Charges against Lewis-Martin include four counts each of conspiracy and bribery; Hamilton faces one conspiracy charge while other defendants—including Landau, Li, Martin II and both Argentos—face conspiracy or bribery counts as well.
These indictments come amid political challenges facing Mayor Adams’ re-election campaign after he avoided criminal charges earlier this year while several members of his administration continue facing legal scrutiny.
Nearly one year ago news emerged about state investigations into both Lewis-Martin and Hamilton; authorities seized their phones along with those belonging to Cushman & Wakefield broker Diana Boutross upon returning from Japan—a trip during which co-defendant Li allegedly deleted text exchanges involving himself and both officials while en route back.
