Ingrid Lewis-Martin, the longtime confidant and former chief adviser to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, found herself at the center of a political and legal storm on Thursday, August 21, 2025, as the Manhattan District Attorney’s office announced a fresh round of federal charges against her. The new indictments, brought by District Attorney Alvin Bragg and the city’s Department of Investigation, deepen a scandal that has already cast a long shadow over City Hall and the mayor’s reelection campaign.
Lewis-Martin, who served as Chief Advisor to the Mayor from January 2022 until her resignation in December 2024, now faces four counts of conspiracy in the fourth degree and four counts of bribe receiving in the second degree. According to CBS News New York and FOX 5 NY, prosecutors allege she exploited her influential role to steer real estate and development projects in exchange for more than $75,000 in bribes and a host of personal benefits—including a paid role on the television series "Godfather of Harlem." That role, which netted her over $800 and Screen Actors Guild eligibility, was just one of several perks prosecutors say she received as part of a sprawling quid pro quo scheme.
"While she allegedly received more than $75,000 in bribes and an appearance on a TV show, every other New Yorker lost out. Hardworking City employees were undermined, businesses and developers who followed the law were pushed aside, and the public was victimized by corruption at the highest levels of government," District Attorney Bragg said in a statement Thursday, as reported by CBS News New York.
The indictments detail a series of alleged corrupt acts spanning from March 2022 to November 2024. In one, Lewis-Martin and her son, Glenn D. Martin II, are accused of steering city contracts and fast-tracking permit approvals for a karaoke bar in Queens. Prosecutors say her son received a $50,000 payment in exchange—a sum that was reportedly used to purchase a Porsche, according to FOX 5 NY. Another indictment centers on the controversial redesign of McGuinness Boulevard in Brooklyn, where Lewis-Martin allegedly conspired to withdraw city approval for protected bike lanes. In return, she is said to have received $2,500, thousands of dollars in catering for an event at Gracie Mansion, and the aforementioned TV role.
Additional charges allege that Lewis-Martin, her son, and Jesse Hamilton—Deputy Commissioner for Real Estate Services and a former state senator—steered city contracts and expedited development projects in exchange for home renovations. Another indictment claims she conspired to secure approval for a residential renovation project in return for catering at Gracie Mansion and City Hall. Six other individuals are also facing charges in connection with the case, among them Gina and Tony Argento, siblings who run a prominent soundstage company and have donated more than $20,000 to Adams’s mayoral campaigns, according to The New York Times.
Lewis-Martin’s attorney, Arthur Aidala, has maintained her innocence throughout the ordeal. "She has always served the city with integrity, and she will firmly plead not guilty to every charge," Aidala said in a statement on August 20, 2025. "While the specifics remain unclear, Ingrid is certain of one thing—she has broken no laws, and she is not guilty." Aidala added that the defense would seek an expedited trial schedule and that Lewis-Martin intends to fully cooperate with authorities, as reported by both FOX 5 NY and The New York Times.
The legal troubles for the Adams administration do not end with Lewis-Martin. Just this week, another former adviser, Winnie Greco, was caught on video handing an envelope full of cash to a journalist inside a bag of potato chips in Harlem. Greco, who resigned from City Hall last year amid investigations, has been suspended from all campaign-related activities, according to a spokesperson for the mayor’s reelection campaign.
Despite the swirl of allegations, Mayor Adams himself has not been implicated in any wrongdoing. Kayla Mamelak, his press secretary, stated, "Mayor Adams was not involved in this matter and has not been accused 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." Todd Shapiro, a spokesperson for Adams’s campaign, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the mayor stands by Lewis-Martin’s decades of public service and believes she deserves the presumption of innocence.
For Adams, the timing of these revelations could hardly be worse. With his reelection bid looming and polls consistently showing him trailing in third or fourth place, the mayor faces mounting pressure to restore public trust. The cascade of legal woes has hamstrung his administration, with recent weeks seeing one associate plead guilty to federal wire fraud and another sentenced to probation for the same crime. Several former high-ranking police officers have also filed lawsuits alleging corruption within the Police Department, further fueling the perception of a City Hall beset by scandal.
Lewis-Martin’s resignation in December 2024, just days before her initial indictment, marked the fall of a figure widely considered the second-most powerful person in City Hall. She had served as Adams’s chief of staff and senior advisor for nearly two decades, both during his tenure as Brooklyn borough president and as a state senator. Her influence was such that she once described herself as Adams’s "sister ordained by God," a sentiment the mayor has echoed publicly.
The legal saga has also drawn in other prominent figures. Jesse Hamilton, named as a co-conspirator, has denied any wrongdoing. "He has served the city and state with honor and distinction as an elected-by-the-people district leader and state senator," his lawyer Mark Pollard said. The Argento siblings, through their attorneys, have also denied any illegal conduct, asserting that they have fully cooperated with investigators and provided thousands of company documents and financial records. "We remain confident that the facts, when presented in a fair and open forum at trial, will demonstrate our complete innocence," their company said in a statement.
While the details of the latest charges remain under wraps, the indictments appear to focus on a pattern of exchanging political influence for personal gain. The saga of McGuinness Boulevard, for example, saw City Hall abruptly reverse course on a street safety plan after pressure from the Argento family and their allies. According to The New York Times, Lewis-Martin repeatedly voiced opposition to the proposal, and the administration’s about-face came just months after the plan was announced.
As the city awaits further developments, one thing is clear: the scandal has left a mark on both City Hall and the broader political landscape. With multiple defendants set to be arraigned and trial dates on the horizon, New Yorkers are left to wonder how deep the rot goes—and whether the city’s leadership can regain their trust.
The coming months promise to test not just the legal system, but the resilience of New York’s political institutions. For now, the presumption of innocence stands, but the city watches closely as the drama unfolds.
