Former top aide to Mayor Eric Adams, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, and Jesse Hamilton, deputy commissioner of real estate services at the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, have been charged in a series of indictments related to steering city contracts to certain real estate developers in exchange for personal benefits.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office announced four new indictments accusing Lewis-Martin of accepting $75,000 in bribes between March 2022 and November 2024. The alleged scheme involved eight co-defendants, including Hamilton. Most of the money was reportedly funneled into an account managed 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 resigned as Mayor Adams’ chief aide and was indicted last December on separate charges involving hotel construction approvals in exchange for over $100,000 in bribes.
The recent indictments focus on city dealings with private real estate companies. Prosecutors allege that Lewis-Martin used her position to benefit developers Tian Ji Li and Yechiel Landau. According to one indictment, she pushed Hamilton and other officials to direct contracts for asylum seeker shelter sites toward property owners favored by Li. As part of his arrangement with these owners, Li received 10 percent of the contract value. In February 2023, the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation entered into a $12 million licensing agreement with one such owner; Li allegedly received $1.2 million from this deal and transferred $50,000 to Martin II’s account.
Prosecutors say Lewis-Martin pressured Hamilton regarding site selection: “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,” she said during a call cited in the indictment.
Hamilton allegedly confirmed: “TJ, he’s, he’s first. He’s first in line.”
Lewis-Martin is also accused of expediting approvals for a karaoke bar project by Li in Queens.
Another indictment alleges that Lewis-Martin intervened on behalf of developer Yechiel Landau at several properties across Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens. At one Bronx property subsidized by the city for affordable housing, she allegedly pressed the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) to approve refinancing before assigning a project manager—a step typically required to ensure preservation efforts.
In return for her assistance on these projects, Landau is accused of paying more than $5,000 for renovations at Lewis-Martin’s home. During this time period, Hamilton allowed her sister to stay at his house while work was being completed; Landau paid for cleaning and repainting there as well.
Text messages described in court documents show Lewis-Martin urging then-Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer and HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. to prioritize Landau’s projects: “I know the mayor is major priority but if you could skip out for second,” she wrote Torres-Springer about joining an urgent call regarding Red Hook development plans.
She assured Landau: “I promise you that your project is priority.” When delays persisted with HPD staff pushing back against financing arrangements needed before closing deals intended for senior and low-income housing residents—Lewis-Martin’s son responded: “[Expletive] him we make it close.”
According to prosecutors’ statements cited from their press release: “hundreds of projects are in HPD’s pipeline but only a few are able to close each calendar year.” Despite this backlog—and repeated pressure from Lewis-Martin—the targeted project closed as planned last December.
Further allegations involve efforts by Lewis-Martin instructing Hamilton at DCAS to help secure leasing agreements benefiting associates tied to migrant shelter operations; however those contracts ultimately did not proceed.
Another charge involves Gina and Anthony Argento—owners of Broadway Stages—who sought changes from the Department of Transportation regarding McGuinness Boulevard redesigns they opposed due reduced vehicle traffic near their studio business. In exchange for intervention against protected bike lanes installation plans—which would impact traffic flow—the Argentos allegedly provided Lewis-Martin with payments totaling $2,500 plus event catering worth $10,000 at Gracie Mansion along with entertainment industry opportunities including roles on TV shows like “Godfather of Harlem” and promises for future casting.
Arthur Aidala—attorney representing Lewis-Martin—responded: “At no point did she receive a single dollar or any personal benefit for her assistance… Yet the District Attorney seeks to portray a dedicated and honest public servant as a criminal. This is not justice—it is a distortion of the truth and a troubling example of politically motivated ‘lawfare.’”
Lewis-Martin faces four counts each related conspiracy/bribery while Hamilton faces one conspiracy charge; other defendants—including developers Li/Landau/Martin II/the Argentos—face similar accusations per court filings.
These developments come amid heightened scrutiny over corruption within City Hall as Mayor Adams seeks re-election after avoiding criminal charges himself earlier this year while his former aides remain under investigation.
