{"id":27747,"date":"2026-01-14T07:07:42","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T12:07:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/2026\/01\/14\/ex-adams-official-pleads-not-guilty-to-bribery-fraud-charges\/"},"modified":"2026-01-14T07:07:43","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T12:07:43","slug":"ex-adams-official-pleads-not-guilty-to-bribery-fraud-charges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/2026\/01\/14\/ex-adams-official-pleads-not-guilty-to-bribery-fraud-charges\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-Adams official pleads not guilty to bribery, fraud charges"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ex-Adams Official Pleads Not Guilty to Bribery and Fraud Charges<\/h1>\n

Introduction to the Case<\/h2>\n

Anthony Herbert, a former senior official in former Mayor Eric Adams\u2019 administration, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to federal charges accusing him of running multiple bribery, kickback, and fraud schemes while serving in City Hall. <\/p>\n

Anthony Herbert, former Adams administration official, leaves federal court in Manhattan after pleading not guilty to bribery, kickback, and fraud charges, Jan. 13, 2026
\nPhoto by Dean Moses
\nHerbert, 61, of Brooklyn, was arraigned Jan. 13 in federal court in Manhattan after prosecutors unsealed an indictment charging him with using his position in the Mayor\u2019s Office to enrich himself through pay-to-play arrangements and a fraudulent COVID-era loan application.<\/p>\n

Background and Charges<\/h2>\n

Herbert was arrested earlier in the day and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges.
\n\u201cMr. Herbert is looking forward to having his day in court to respond to the allegations,\u201d Herbert\u2019s attorney, Richard Washington, told amNewYork.
\nFederal prosecutors allege that Herbert, who worked in the Mayor\u2019s Community Affairs Unit from February 2022 through September 2025, repeatedly abused his role while serving first as Brooklyn Borough Director and later as Citywide Public Housing Liaison. In that latter position, Herbert acted as City Hall\u2019s point person with residents and the leadership of the city\u2019s Housing Authority.<\/p>\n

Previous Incidents and Connections<\/h2>\n

Herbert was fired from the Adams administration in September after posting a Facebook meme criticizing Charlie Kirk following the right-wing activist\u2019s fatal shooting in Utah.
\nHerbert attended former Gov. Andrew Cuomo\u2019s election night party on Nov.4, where he told amNewYork that there was no bad blood over his firing, saying, \u201cIt is what it is. I own up to my responsibility of understanding that there are policies that have to be followed. It was just bad timing.\u201d
\nHe is the latest alum of the Adams era to be charged over alleged corruption. Mohamed Bahi, who served as Adams\u2019 senior liaison to the Muslim community from 2022 to 2024, pleaded guilty to federal charges on Aug. 12 after he was accused of orchestrating an unlawful donation scheme to secure matching funds for the former mayor\u2019s 2021 campaign. During the same month, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg hit Adams\u2019 former chief adviser Ingrid Lewis-Martin with a slew of fresh corruption charges \u2013 separate from her still-pending bribery and conspiracy indictment that was filed in late 2024.<\/p>\n

Two Separate Schemes<\/h2>\n

According to the indictment, Herbert engaged in two separate corruption schemes. In one, prosecutors say he solicited and received thousands of dollars in cash from a security company executive in exchange for pressuring other city officials to award the executive\u2019s company contracts, including work at NYCHA developments.
\nIn a second scheme, Herbert allegedly pushed city officials to approve burial assistance payments under a program for low-income families to a funeral home director. Prosecutors say Herbert then received kickbacks from the proceeds of those publicly funded payments.
\nIn total, investigators allege Herbert accepted approximately $16,000 in bribes and kickbacks. The indictment also accuses Herbert of filing false financial disclosure forms with the city to conceal the payments.
\nHerbert is accused of soliciting cash and kickbacks while pushing city contracts and burial assistance payments for personal gain, according to federal prosecutors
\nPhoto by Dean Moses
\nSeparately, prosecutors allege that in April 2021, before his employment at City Hall, Herbert submitted a fraudulent loan application for $20,418 under the federal Paycheck Protection Program, claiming to operate a nonexistent business that sold baked goods.<\/p>\n

Charges and Potential Sentences<\/h2>\n

Herbert is charged with two counts of bribery, honest services wire fraud, federal program fraud, extortion under color of official right, and wire fraud. The charges carry potential maximum sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years, though any sentence would be determined by a judge if Herbert is convicted.
\nIn a statement issued on Tuesday following his arrest, U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said the case reflects a commitment to holding public officials accountable who abuse positions of trust.
\n\u201cNew Yorkers deserve honest and competent public officials,\u201d said Clayton. \u201cAs alleged, at a time when Anthony Herbert was serving as City Hall\u2019s liaison to the City\u2019s public housing residents, he engaged in blatant pay-to-play schemes to enrich himself.<\/p>\n

Evidence Cited by Prosecutors<\/h2>\n

Federal prosecutors say their case relies heavily on recorded calls, text messages, and financial records gathered while a security company executive was cooperating with law enforcement.
\nIn those communications, Herbert allegedly tied his behind-the-scenes outreach to city officials directly to requests for money. In one text message cited in the indictment, Herbert pressed the executive for payment, writing, \u201cI meant to ask if u still can help out.\u201d
\nThe indictment also includes messages prosecutors say show Herbert\u2019s awareness that his conduct could draw scrutiny. In a separate exchange, Herbert cautioned that he needed to be careful in how he operated, writing, \u201cI just have to be careful how I do it so it doesn\u2019t raise eyebrows.\u201d
\nPhoto by Dean Moses
\nProsecutors further allege that Herbert coached the executive on how to avoid exposing Herbert\u2019s role while pursuing city business. In a recorded conversation, Herbert allegedly advised the executive, \u201cYou don\u2019t have to say nothing about helping out the mayor or nothing like that,\u201d while discussing an upcoming meeting with senior city officials.
\nAccording to court filings, Herbert also portrayed himself as having influence over contracting decisions, telling the executive in a recorded exchange that key officials \u201ccontrol that shit\u201d and that \u201c[the Mayor] is gonna tell them what to do.\u201d
\nIn the separate funeral home scheme, prosecutors cite messages and emails showing Herbert actively intervened in the burial assistance process while concealing information that could have reduced city payments.
\nAfter the funeral home director received city reimbursement checks, Herbert allegedly referenced his expected share of the proceeds and later accepted a $5,000 check labeled \u201creferrals,\u201d which prosecutors say represented a kickback.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

The case against Anthony Herbert highlights the ongoing efforts to combat corruption within the city’s administration, emphasizing the importance of accountability and transparency in public service. As the legal proceedings continue, it will be crucial to monitor how the case unfolds and its implications for the city’s governance and trust in public officials.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n