All articles tagged with #crime and corruption
Originally Published 6 months ago — by The New York Times
Four former high-ranking NYPD officers have sued Mayor Eric Adams and department leaders, alleging a culture of cronyism, corruption, and retaliation within the department, including selling promotions and replacing qualified officers with friends and allies, which could undermine the department's integrity and recent crime reduction achievements.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by NBC4 WCMH-TV
Sam Randazzo, Ohio's former top energy regulator indicted in the state's biggest corruption case, was found dead by suicide. He was accused of taking a bribe from FirstEnergy to ensure the passage of a $1 billion bailout bill for its nuclear power plants. The FBI had searched his home in November 2020, and he faced federal and state charges, including bribery, wire fraud, and money laundering. This comes after lobbyist Neil Clark, also tied to the case, died by apparent suicide in 2021.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Los Angeles Times
Former L.A. Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan was found guilty of racketeering, bribery, fraud, and giving false statements in a corruption case involving pay-to-play schemes with developers at City Hall. The federal jury reached the verdict in a matter of hours, finding Chan guilty on all counts. Chan's attorney plans to file an appeal, arguing that Chan was not part of the criminal enterprise led by former City Councilmember Jose Huizar. Prosecutors described Chan as a crucial intermediary between Huizar and Chinese real estate developers, helping to secure benefits for Huizar, his associates, and himself. Chan is scheduled for sentencing on June 10.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Al Jazeera English
In the trial of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, a witness accused an Israeli embassy official in Colombia of participating in a money-laundering scheme linked to drug trafficking, alleging that the official transported millions of dollars for the Sinaloa cartel. The witness, a convicted drug trafficker, also implicated Honduran officials in the drug smuggling operations. These allegations raise questions about Israel's involvement in Latin America and its historical ties to the region's governments and drug networks.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Fortune
Former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones and former Senior Vice President Michael Dowling have been indicted on multiple felony charges related to a $60 million bribery scandal in Ohio. They failed to surrender as promised and are now on the run. The indictments also include additional charges against former chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, Sam Randazzo. This marks the latest development in what has been labeled the largest corruption case in Ohio history, involving a web of bribery, theft, and money laundering.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by New York Post
A NYCHA staffer, Alex Tolozano, retired just two weeks before being indicted in a widespread bribery scheme, allegedly accepting kickbacks in exchange for no-bid contracts. Tolozano, who had been suspended multiple times during his three-decade tenure, was previously caught naked in bed during a work video call. His retirement and pension, estimated at $68,000 annually, have raised questions about NYCHA's awareness of the federal probe. The indictment also includes other NYCHA employees accused of accepting substantial bribes, highlighting a culture of corruption within the organization.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Fox Business
A massive bribery scandal involving 70 suspects, including NYCHA officials, has been uncovered in New York City, with individuals accused of taking kickbacks from contractors in exchange for no-bid jobs and extorting reluctant payers. The suspects allegedly raked in over $2 million on $13 million worth of small jobs, and the scandal involves naked Zoom calls, trips to Europe, and homegrown "heroes" who rose to management positions. The federal investigation, described as the largest bribery bust in Justice Department history, has led to charges carrying maximum sentences of 10 to 20 years in federal prison for the accused.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by New York Post
70 current and former employees of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) were charged in a bribery scheme, with superintendents and administrators pocketing a collective $2 million over 10 years in bribes to secure work contracts at their properties. The charges represent the largest number of federal bribery raps brought in a single day in Department of Justice history. The defendants allegedly received more than $2 million in bribes between 2013 and 2023, with typical kickbacks ranging from $500 to $2,000. The scandal involved a range of employees, including those who were once praised as "heroes" and even one who was suspended for appearing naked in bed with a woman during a work-related video call.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Gothamist
Federal prosecutors have charged about 70 current and former New York City Housing Authority employees in a massive kickback scheme, labeling it as the "largest single-day bribery takedown in the history of the justice department." The employees allegedly accepted over $2 million in kickbacks from contractors in exchange for more than $13 million in NYCHA business across at least 100 developments. The scheme involved exploiting a no-bid process for contracts worth less than $10,000, eroding public trust and violating the agency's zero-tolerance policy for wrongful and illegal activity.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by CNN
Federal prosecutors in New York have charged 70 current and former employees of the nation’s largest public housing authority with bribery and extortion, alleging they pocketed over $2 million in cash payments for no-bid repair contracts. The scheme involved nearly a third of New York City’s public housing developments, and the defendants allegedly demanded a percentage of the contract value, ranging from $500 to $2,000. The New York City Housing Authority CEO condemned the actions, and the city housing authority has agreed to significant reforms in its contracting process as a result of the case.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by CBS New York
Federal authorities have arrested at least 70 current and former New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) employees on charges of extortion and bribery, alleging that they accepted over $2 million in bribes from contractors in exchange for awarding them over $13 million of work on NYCHA buildings. The corruption allegedly occurred at nearly a third of all NYCHA buildings across all five boroughs of New York City, involving essential work such as plumbing and window repairs. All charged NYCHA employees have been suspended, and the roles will be filled to minimize disruption for residents.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by THE CITY
Federal authorities have arrested 70 current and former NYCHA officials for allegedly accepting $2 million in bribes to award $13 million in no-bid contracts, a scheme that has been ongoing since 2013. The corruption involved work at nearly 100 developments citywide and was exposed by a 2019 investigation. The charges mark the largest federal bribery case in the Justice Department's history and have led to immediate suspensions of those involved. NYCHA has committed to implementing reforms to prevent future corruption, and the investigation remains active, encouraging vendors to come forward.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Department of Justice
70 current and former employees of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) have been charged with bribery and extortion offenses, with 66 of them arrested in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and North Carolina. The defendants are accused of demanding kickbacks and bribes for access to no-bid contracts, resulting in over $2 million in corrupt payments from contractors in exchange for awarding over $13 million worth of no-bid contracts. The charges are part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation and are being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Boston 25 News
Four Massachusetts State Police troopers and two civilians have been charged in an alleged bribery scheme to provide passing scores to commercial driver’s license applicants in exchange for kickbacks, including a driveway makeover, snowblower, and high-end bottled water. The troopers are accused of falsifying results on basic skills tests for CDL applicants, with one trooper receiving personal benefits such as a driveway makeover, snowblower, and various goods. The indictment alleges that the troopers conspired to give preferential treatment to at least 17 CDL applicants and used code words to identify those who received special treatment. The State Police Association of Massachusetts expressed disappointment and emphasized the importance of public trust in law enforcement.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Boston Herald
Four Massachusetts State Police troopers, including two current and two retired officers, were arrested in connection with an alleged bribery fraud scheme involving the sale of commercial driver's licenses. The arrests add to the agency's history of corruption, with some officers earning exorbitant salaries and pensions. The ongoing scandals raise questions about the extent of corruption within the state police force and the leniency of consequences for convicted officers, while highlighting the need for systemic reform.