Introduction to the Corruption Case
Manhattan prosecutors are continuing to present evidence to a sitting grand jury in the corruption case against Ingrid Lewis-Martin, the former chief advisor to Mayor Eric Adams.
Background of the Case
A court hearing Thursday is confirmation that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is forging ahead with his prosecution of Lewis-Martin, one of Adams’ closest aides for years, even as the Trump Justice Department has aggressively sought to dismiss a separate and unrelated corruption case brought by federal prosecutors against the mayor himself.
Charges Against Lewis-Martin
In December, Bragg charged Lewis-Martin, her son and two businessmen, in a “long-running bribery, money-laundering and conspiracy scheme.” The indictment alleged that Lewis-Martin used her influence to eliminate roadblocks for the businessmen at the Department of Buildings in exchange for cash and other benefits, including $100,000 to purchase a Porsche for her son, Glenn Martin II.
Plea and Defense
All four pleaded not guilty to all charges, and the businessmen and Martin say the payment was a loan, not a gift.
Ongoing Investigation
During a virtual court conference Thursday, Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Moore revealed the grand jury was hearing evidence regarding “potentially other matters related to these defendants.” Moore also revealed that the DA’s office had turned over what he called “unredacted Ulrich documents” to the defense team, a reference to Adams’ former Building Commissioner Eric Ulrich.
Connection to Other Cases
In a separate case, the DA charged Ulrich with bribery back in September 2023. Adams’ “chief advisor” — a reference to Lewis-Martin — is mentioned in several sections of one of his indictments, and public records indicate she was in constant communication with him during the two years that investigators were monitoring Ulrich’s communications.
Specific Incidents
In one incident, two of Ulrich’s co-defendants — restaurateur Joseph Livreri and tow truck company owner Mike Mazzio — had a “series of conversations” with Lewis-Martin to “get authorization” for Mazzio’s firm to tow vehicles on highways during snowstorms. In another, Ulrich put Livreri on the phone with Lewis-Martin to get help in his dispute with the buildings agency. In yet another, she met with Ulrich, Livreri and Mazzio at an upscale Upper East Side restaurant called Phillipe Chow.
Lewis-Martin’s Background and Role
Lewis-Martin worked for Adams for decades, starting when he was a state senator and continuing when he was elected Brooklyn borough president. Her position as his “chief advisor” made her the de facto second-in-command at City Hall.
Investigation and Subpoena
In late September, the Manhattan DA confiscated her phone as she exited the gate at JFK Airport’s Terminal 7 following a trip to Japan. She was also served with a subpoena by Manhattan federal prosecutors in that same airport encounter. She retired several weeks later.
New Evidence
On Thursday, ADA Moore revealed that he’d discovered an unsigned document that purported to be a promissory note asserting that the payment to Martin was a loan. The document was dated Aug. 28, 2023, but was attached to an email dated Oct. 2, 2024 — after Lewis-Martin had her phone confiscated.
Challenges in Obtaining Evidence
In describing the volume of evidence prosecutors were in the process of turning over to the defendants, Moore also noted that many of the communications between Lewis-Martin, her son and the two businessmen were sent via the encrypted message app Signal that automatically deletes messages. In the indictment, prosecutors allege Lewis-Martin specifically instructed one of her co-defendants to use Signal.
Retrieval of Deleted Messages
Moore indicated the use of Signal made obtaining the full record of conversations more complicated, but he noted “sometimes those deleted messages are still on the phone.” He said as a result, the DA has been successful in retrieving some of these allegedly erased messages in this case.
Related Cases
In February a onetime senior aide to Adams, Mohamed Bahi, pleaded guilty to conspiracy in the same straw-donor scheme the mayor is accused of orchestrating. Bahi had been charged with obstruction of justice — for deleting Signal from his phone.
Conclusion
The ongoing case against Ingrid Lewis-Martin and others underscores the complexity and depth of corruption investigations involving high-ranking officials in New York City. As the Manhattan DA’s investigation continues, it may uncover more details about the extent of corruption and how it was facilitated. The use of encrypted messaging apps and the challenges in retrieving deleted messages highlight the evolving nature of evidence collection in digital age investigations.
FAQs
- Q: Who is Ingrid Lewis-Martin?
A: Ingrid Lewis-Martin is the former chief advisor to Mayor Eric Adams, having worked with him for decades. - Q: What are the charges against Lewis-Martin?
A: Lewis-Martin has been charged in a “long-running bribery, money-laundering and conspiracy scheme” involving the use of her influence for cash and other benefits. - Q: Is this case related to other corruption investigations?
A: Yes, the case is connected to other investigations, including one against Eric Ulrich, Adams’ former Building Commissioner, who was charged with bribery. - Q: How is the DA handling the challenge of encrypted messages?
A: The DA’s office has been successful in retrieving some deleted messages from the encrypted messaging app Signal, despite the challenges posed by its automatic deletion feature.
