Former Adams advisor Ingrid Lewis-Martin indicted on more bribery charges: DA

MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) – The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has indicted former chief advisor to Mayor Eric Adams, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, on more bribery and conspiracy charges on Thursday.

Lewis-Martin, her son and two real estate investors were charged with bribery back in December, accused by prosecutors of getting $100,000 in bribes to speed up approvals for construction projects. An investigation found that Lewis-Martin also allegedly accepted bribes of $75,000 between March 2022 and November 2024, bringing the total amount to $175,000, according to prosecutors.

“… Ingrid is certain of one thing—she has broken no laws, and she is not guilty. We will be requesting an expedited trial schedule,” Lewis-Martin’s lawyer, Arthur Aidala, said in a statement before she turned herself in.

In the first of four indictments, prosecutors alleged that Lewis-Martin and her son, Glenn D. Martin II, conspired to steer contracts for migrant shelters to property owners they were friendly with. They’re also accused of fast-tracking permit approvals for a karaoke bar in Queens, with Martin II receiving $50,000 in cash from a city contract, according to the D.A.’s office.

Lewis-Martin was also accused of forcing the DOT to withdraw its approval for the McGuiness Boulevard redesign, which would add bike lanes to the roadway. Prosecutors alleged she got $2,500, an appearance in the TV show "Godfather of Harlem" and thousands of dollars for catering for a Gracie Mansion event.

In the third indictment, prosecutors alleged that Lewis-Martin and Department of Citywide Administrative Services Deputy Commissioner Jesse Hamilton conspired to fast-track projects and steer contracts to another co-defendant in exchange for renovations on their homes.

Lewis-Martin was also accused of conspiring to get approval for a residential project for thousands of dollars for catering, again, at Gracie Mansion and City Hall, according to prosecutors.

“As alleged, Lewis-Martin consistently overrode the expertise of public servants so she could line her own pockets. While she allegedly received more than $75,000 in bribes and an appearance on a TV show, every other New Yorker lost out,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement.

Adams was indicted on bribery and corruption charges in a separate case last September. The charges were later dropped at the direction of the Department of Justice.

“Mayor Adams stands by her decades of public service and remains confident that the truth will prevail. Ingrid has dedicated her life to the people of New York City, and she deserves the presumption of innocence,” a spokesperson for Adams said in a statement.