New York City’s political landscape has been thrown into fresh turmoil as Ingrid Lewis-Martin, once the closest adviser to Mayor Eric Adams, faces yet another round of corruption charges. The new indictment, expected to be unveiled in Supreme Court on August 21, 2025, implicates not only Lewis-Martin but also her son Glenn Martin II, Deputy Commissioner Jesse Hamilton, and prominent Adams backers Gina and Tony Argento. Sources across NBC New York, The New York Times, New York Post, and other outlets confirm that city prosecutors are zeroing in on an alleged bribery and money laundering scheme that has cast a long shadow over City Hall as Adams seeks re-election.
For Lewis-Martin, the stakes could hardly be higher. Already indicted in December 2024 on charges of accepting over $100,000 in bribes—allegedly funneled through two businessmen and used, in part, to buy her son a $113,000 Porsche—she now faces a new criminal case, separate from her existing legal woes. This latest round of charges, according to The New York Times, will likely include multiple counts of bribery and involve an even broader circle of Adams’s inner circle.
At the heart of the allegations is a pattern of quid pro quo arrangements. Prosecutors claim Lewis-Martin and her son accepted high-end meals, luxury handouts, and cash in exchange for favorable treatment on city real estate deals, including the high-profile McGuinness Boulevard redevelopment in Greenpoint. Her famous karaoke parties, reportedly funded by businessmen, have also come under scrutiny as possible fronts for these illicit exchanges. Authorities seized the phones of Hamilton and Martin at Kennedy Airport last fall, underscoring the seriousness of the investigation.
The Argento siblings, Gina and Tony, are prominent figures in the city’s business community, running the massive Broadway Stages sound stages and having donated over $20,000 to Adams’s campaign. Their company is now drawn into the scandal, accused of leveraging political connections for business favors. In a strongly worded statement, attorneys for the Argentos and Broadway Stages categorically denied all allegations, vowing to “vigorously defend against these baseless charges.” They further criticized the timing of the indictment, claiming, “This is an abuse of prosecutorial discretion that impacts not only the company and its principals, but thousands of jobs in New York City.”
Despite the mounting legal troubles, Lewis-Martin and her attorney, Arthur Aidala, remain defiant. Aidala stated, “Tomorrow, Ingrid Lewis-Martin will appear in Supreme Court,” adding, “While the specifics remain unclear, Ingrid is certain of one thing—she has broken no laws, and she is not guilty.” He emphasized her decades of public service, insisting, “She has always served the city with integrity, and she will firmly plead not guilty to any charge.” Aidala also revealed plans to request an expedited trial schedule, arguing that the charges are politically motivated and that Lewis-Martin deserves the presumption of innocence.
Mayor Adams, for his part, has been at pains to distance himself from the scandal. A City Hall spokeswoman reiterated, “Mayor Adams was not involved in this matter and has not been accused of or implicated in any wrongdoing.” Press secretary Kayla Mamelak Altus echoed this sentiment, saying, “He remains focused on what has always been his priority—serving the 8.5 million New Yorkers who call this city home and making their city safer and more affordable every single day. Ingrid Lewis-Martin no longer works for this administration.”
Yet, the optics are undeniably damaging for Adams, who is already facing a tough independent re-election bid. According to The New York Times, Adams is trailing behind Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani and independent challenger Andrew Cuomo. The mayor’s campaign has been battered by a string of scandals: his former chief Muslim community liaison was recently charged with fraud, a loyal Turkish donor convicted for illegal campaign contributions, and four ex-police officers have sued him for allegedly running the NYPD like a “criminal enterprise.” The cumulative effect has left Adams’s reputation and legacy in jeopardy, with critics questioning his judgment and the company he keeps.
Lewis-Martin’s relationship with Adams is both personal and political. Described as his “sister ordained by god,” she was not just a chief adviser but a confidante who helped steer Adams’s administration through turbulent times. Even after her abrupt resignation last December, Lewis-Martin continued to volunteer for Adams’s campaign, a fact that has not escaped scrutiny from both supporters and detractors. The mayor’s campaign spokesperson, Todd Shapiro, stated, “Mayor Adams stands by her decades of public service and remains confident that the truth will prevail.”
The details of the new indictment remain closely guarded. Prosecutors have not disclosed the full extent of the charges, and sources indicate that the case is not federal. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg previously alleged that Lewis-Martin was engaged in a “long-running bribery, money laundering and conspiracy scheme by using her position and authority as the chief advisor to the New York City mayor, the second-highest position in city government, to illegally influence city decisions in exchange for in excess of $100,000 in cash and other benefits for herself and her son, Glenn Martin II.” Bragg also accused her of acting as an “on-call consultant” for real estate developers Raizada Vaid and Mayank Dwivedi, who allegedly made two $50,000 payments to a joint account controlled by Lewis-Martin and her son.
Lewis-Martin’s defense has been unwavering. Aidala has argued that all she did was help constituents navigate government bureaucracy, dismissing the charges as “ridiculous” and politically motivated. “We’re very confident that the New Yorkers using their common sense in this courthouse will understand the ridiculousness of these charges,” he said in December. Lewis-Martin herself has maintained her innocence, insisting she has always acted lawfully and with the city’s best interests at heart.
As the city awaits the next chapter in this unfolding legal and political drama, the implications are far-reaching. The scandal has not only shaken confidence in Adams’s administration but also raised broader questions about the intersection of politics, business, and public trust in New York City. With Election Day looming and the legal battles just beginning, all eyes are on Supreme Court, where Lewis-Martin and her co-defendants will have their day before the law. The outcome could reverberate well beyond the courtroom, influencing the future of City Hall and the direction of America’s largest city.
For now, the city’s political elite and ordinary New Yorkers alike are left to watch and wait, wondering just how deep the roots of corruption may run—and whether justice, in the end, will prevail.
