Top aide to former Mayor Eric Adams accepted diamond earrings as a bribe, prosecutors say

Prosecutors have accused a senior aide to New York City Mayor Eric Adams of accepting diamond earrings from two real estate developers, subsequently pressuring city regulators to expedite their construction projects despite significant safety concerns.

New details regarding one of several alleged bribery schemes involving Ingrid Lewis-Martin, a close confidant of Mayor Adams and once the second-most powerful figure in city government, emerged in court papers filed by Manhattan prosecutors on Tuesday.

Lewis-Martin resigned in late 2024, shortly before she and her son were charged with receiving over $100,000 in bribes from developers Raizada Vaid and Mayank Dwivedi.

All four have entered not guilty pleas.

Lewis-Martin faced a separate set of bribery charges in August, alleging she exchanged political favors – including canceling a planned bike lane and directing shelter contracts towards a preferred developer – for cash, home renovations, and even a speaking role on the television series "Godfather of Harlem." She has also pleaded not guilty to these allegations.

An attorney representing Lewis-Martin has consistently maintained that her actions were merely aimed at assisting constituents in navigating bureaucratic hurdles.

The latest filing expands upon the initial charges brought against Lewis-Martin and her son, Glenn D. Martin II, who performs under the stage name DJ Suave Luciano.

According to the new court documents, Lewis-Martin received a pair of 2-carat diamond earrings, valued at approximately $3,000, from Vaid and Dwivedi in 2022, shortly after meeting with them.

Prosecutors allege that Lewis-Martin then exerted pressure on city regulators to accelerate approvals for the developers’ projects.

In one instance, she reportedly urged the acting commissioner of the Department of Buildings to approve the proposed renovation of a Manhattan hotel owned by Vaid, despite "legitimate safety concerns" raised by building inspectors.

Following the city regulators' agreement to expedite the application, Lewis-Martin allegedly texted her son, indicating that Vaid would have him "completely covered. You(r) fashion line is 100 percent." The court filing also states that Vaid promised to assist Martin II in opening a Chick-fil-A franchise.

In an email, Lewis-Martin’s attorney, Arthur Aidala, criticized the length of the filing without addressing its substance. He stated: "We look forward to submitting our robust reply to the prosecutor’s desperate 170 page answer to our motion to dismiss. It is the longest answer to a motion we have ever seen and that speaks volumes about their insecurity in their case."

Inquiries made to the attorneys for Martin II, Vaid, and Dwivedi received no response.

The case against Lewis-Martin, brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, first surfaced amidst a period of overlapping scandals for the Adams administration. It is distinct from Mayor Adams’ own federal corruption charges, which were dismissed last year by the Justice Department. Mayor Adams is not accused of any wrongdoing in Lewis-Martin's case.

A spokesperson for Mayor Adams did not respond to an inquiry regarding the latest allegations against Ms Lewis-Martin.