Eric Adams' former chief of staff indicted for accepting $75,000 in alleged bribes—including $10,000 in seafood

Mayor Eric Adams’ longtime confidante and former senior adviser, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, was hit Thursday with a set of corruption indictments accusing her of running a sprawling bribery scheme that touched multiple corners of New York City government.

Lewis-Martin, often referred to as Adams’ “sister ordained by God,” allegedly traded political favors for more than $75,000 in cash, luxury perks, seafood spreads, and even an acting cameo opposite Forest Whitaker, prosecutors said.

According to The New York Post, she entered a Manhattan courtroom in a gold suit and heels, visibly irritated, as Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Guy Tardanico summed up the charges: “If you were willing to pay Ms. Lewis-Martin, she was open for business.”

The indictments accuse Lewis-Martin and several associates of exploiting the city’s $7 billion migrant crisis contracts, manipulating street redesign projects, securing personal home renovations, and intervening in building permits, all while collecting bribes in cash and goods.

Among those charged alongside her were Glen Martin II, her DJ son, Jesse Hamilton, a former state senator and city official, film studio owners Gina and Tony Argento, as well as developers Tian Ji Li and Yechiel Landau. All have pleaded not guilty.

The alleged schemes included Lewis-Martin and Hamilton allegedly steering multimillion-dollar migrant shelter deals to developers who paid them off. Developer Tian Ji Li allegedly received 10 percent of a $12 million contract and allegedly funneled $50,000 through a Queens karaoke bar to Lewis-Martin’s son.

Additionally, prosecutors said Lewis-Martin leaned on city agencies to speed approvals for Li’s bar, V Show, which doubled as her meeting spot.

At the Argentos’ request, she allegedly pushed City Hall to roll back bike lane plans in Greenpoint. In return, prosecutors say she received thousands in catering, Bloomingdale’s clothing, a $2,500 payment, and even a speaking role on Hulu’s Godfather of Harlem.

Real estate developer Landau also allegedly provided $5,000 in renovations at her home, while another grateful homeowner showered her with $10,000 worth of seafood, including crab cakes she bragged about eating while on the phone.

The charges further taint Adams’ scandal-plagued administration, which is already struggling to recover from a separate federal corruption probe. Adams is not implicated, but the case adds more fuel to criticism that corruption is rampant in his inner circle.

The day before Lewis-Martin’s arraignment, another Adams ally, Winnie Greco, handed a reporter a potato chip bag stuffed with cash.

Adams’ campaign rivals, including Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, quickly seized on the indictments, accusing the mayor of fostering a corrupt culture at City Hall.

Still, Adams has stood by his decades-old friend. Campaign spokesman Todd Shapiro said, “She has declared her innocence, and his prayers are with her and her family,” emphasizing that the mayor has not been accused of wrongdoing.

Lewis-Martin’s attorney, Arthur Aidala, dismissed the indictments as politically motivated. “Her only so-called ‘offense’ was helping fellow citizens navigate the City’s outdated and overwhelming bureaucracy,” Aidala said. “This is not justice, it is lawfare.”

This marks the second round of corruption charges against Lewis-Martin in less than a year. She was previously accused of taking $100,000 to buy a Porsche for her son. She resigned from City Hall soon after but has remained close to Adams, even volunteering for his independent mayoral run.