On August 21, 2025, New York City’s corridors of power were rocked by a set of indictments that seemed almost cinematic in their sweep and intrigue. Ingrid Lewis-Martin, once the trusted right-hand of Mayor Eric Adams, stood accused of orchestrating a sprawling corruption scheme that, according to prosecutors, touched everything from city contracts for migrant shelters to street redesigns and even a cameo in a hit television series. The allegations, detailed in four bombshell indictments unsealed by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, cast a long shadow over City Hall and Mayor Adams’ already embattled re-election campaign.
Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Guy Tardanico didn’t mince words during Lewis-Martin’s arraignment, declaring, “If you were willing to pay Ms. Lewis-Martin, she was open for business.” The charges stem from four distinct alleged schemes that prosecutors claim exchanged political favors for more than $75,000 in bribes—ranging from cash and home renovations to thousands of dollars in seafood and a speaking role opposite Forest Whitaker on Hulu’s Godfather of Harlem.
The city’s ongoing migrant crisis, which has seen New York spend a staggering $7 billion to provide for asylum seekers, sits at the heart of the most lucrative alleged scheme. Prosecutors allege that Lewis-Martin, her son Glen Martin II, and real estate developer Tian Ji Li conspired to steer city contracts for migrant shelters to preferred property owners. According to the indictment, Li received 10% of a $12 million shelter contract and then wired $50,000 to Lewis-Martin’s son through his Queens karaoke bar, V Show. The bar, which opened in fall 2023, became a regular haunt for Lewis-Martin, herself a karaoke enthusiast, and also featured in allegations that she pressured city officials to fast-track permit approvals for the club.
But the alleged corruption didn’t stop there. The indictments accuse Lewis-Martin of leveraging her city influence in a range of ways—sometimes for cash, other times for more unusual rewards. In one instance, she allegedly intervened with the Department of Transportation at the behest of Gina and Tony Argento, well-connected siblings who own Broadway Stages, a Brooklyn studio complex. The Argentos opposed the addition of bike lanes to McGuinness Boulevard, and prosecutors say Lewis-Martin successfully pushed the mayor’s office to alter the street redesign plans, brushing aside objections from advocacy groups. In a text to Gina Argento, Lewis-Martin reportedly wrote, “We do not care what they say. We are ignoring them and continuing with our plan. They can kiss my ass.”
In return, the Argentos allegedly arranged for Lewis-Martin to receive $2,500, more than $10,000 in catering for Gracie Mansion, clothing from Bloomingdale’s, and—most notably—a speaking role on Godfather of Harlem. The cameo, which Lewis-Martin reportedly called her “big debut,” was enough to secure her membership in the Screen Actors Guild, even if it was a blink-and-you-missed-it appearance alongside Forest Whitaker.
Meanwhile, Lewis-Martin and her close ally Jesse Hamilton, a former state senator and city deputy commissioner, allegedly received home renovations from real estate developer Yechiel Landau after helping him resolve issues with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development. According to court documents, Landau paid $5,000 for renovations at Lewis-Martin’s home and created a living space for Hamilton’s sister, all while the two officials helped smooth the way for Landau’s projects in Red Hook and The Bronx. Hamilton, who resigned from his city post on the day the indictments were unsealed, pleaded not guilty alongside the other defendants.
Lewis-Martin’s appetite for favors seems to have extended even to seafood. Prosecutors allege she intervened with the Department of Buildings to help an unnamed homeowner secure approval for property renovations. The grateful homeowner repaid her with $10,000 worth of shrimp, salmon, octopus, and crab cakes—lavish spreads that reportedly catered events at Gracie Mansion and City Hall. “I’m eating one of your crab cakes as I speak to you,” Lewis-Martin allegedly told the homeowner, according to the indictment.
This isn’t the first time Lewis-Martin has faced such allegations. In late 2024, she was indicted on separate bribery charges, accused of accepting $100,000 to cover the cost of a Porsche for her son. That earlier case led to her resignation from City Hall, but not her exit from Adams’ political orbit—she continued volunteering for his independent mayoral campaign, a fact that’s drawn criticism from his electoral rivals.
The new indictments come at a precarious moment for Mayor Adams. His approval ratings have plummeted after a series of scandals, and polls show him trailing behind his challengers in the upcoming mayoral race. His opponents wasted no time seizing on the latest revelations. Andrew Cuomo, himself no stranger to controversy, mocked Adams at a press conference by handing out bags of chips—a nod to a separate incident in which an Adams aide was suspended for allegedly trying to bribe a reporter with cash hidden in a potato chip bag. “Sometimes a bag of chips is just a bag of chips,” Cuomo quipped, before calling the situation “embarrassing” and “depressing.”
Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Party candidate, was even more direct. “While New Yorkers struggle to afford the most expensive city in America, Eric Adams and his administration are too busy tripping over corruption charges to come to their defense,” he said, adding, “Corruption isn’t just about what a politician gains, it’s about what the public loses. And right now, New Yorkers are paying the price as another flurry of indictments continue to erode their trust in our democracy and distract from the affordability crisis that demands action and urgency.”
Despite the mounting criticism, Adams’ team insists the mayor has not been implicated in any wrongdoing. “While Ingrid Lewis-Martin no longer works for this administration, she has been a friend and colleague of the mayor for over 40 years, and he knows her as a devoted public servant; she has declared her innocence, and his prayers are with her and her family,” said campaign spokesman Todd Shapiro. City Hall spokeswoman Kayla Mamelak echoed the sentiment: “Mayor Adams was not involved in this matter and has not been accused of or implicated in any wrongdoing. 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.”
For her part, Lewis-Martin has steadfastly denied any criminal conduct. Her attorney, Arthur Aidala, dismissed the indictments as “lawfare,” arguing, “Her only so-called ‘offense’ was fulfilling her duty—helping fellow citizens navigate the City’s outdated and often overwhelming bureaucracy. At no point did she receive a single dollar or any personal benefit for her assistance. Yet, the District Attorney seeks to portray a dedicated and honest public servant as a criminal. This is not justice—it is a distortion of the truth and a troubling example of politically motivated ‘lawfare.’”
District Attorney Alvin Bragg, however, painted a starkly different picture, saying, “We allege that Ingrid Lewis-Martin engaged in classic bribery conspiracies that had a deep and wide-ranging impact on city government. As alleged, Lewis-Martin consistently overrode the expertise of public servants so she could line her own pockets.”
As the city braces for a contentious election season, the fallout from these indictments is sure to reverberate far beyond the walls of the Manhattan courtroom. With all defendants pleading not guilty and the mayor’s office in damage-control mode, New Yorkers are left to wonder just how deep the rot goes—and whether faith in their city government can be restored.
