Now she’s within the spirit of giving.
Ingrid Lewis-Martin, Mayor Eric Adams’ former chief advisor, hosted her annual toy drive in Brooklyn Friday night time and belted out the lyrics to Beyoncé’s “Cuff It” throughout karaoke — someday after she was indicted for allegedly doling out favors to 2 New York Metropolis hoteliers in change for bribes.
The longtime Adams confidant – his No. 2 at Metropolis Corridor till her sudden resignation on Sunday – was in a festive temper whereas sporting a white turtleneck with a gold chain and black pants as she collected a whole lot of toys and celebrated the season of giving with greater than 100 attendees on the Paerdegat Yacht Membership.
Toys, together with Nerf Weapons, plush snowman, basketballs, and dozens of board video games have been piled excessive close to the middle of the banquet room, with Black Santa Claus collectible figurines and mini Christmas bushes lining the red-clothed tables.
Lewis-Martin took middle stage throughout karaoke, singing and swaying to the Beyoncé monitor laden with expletives as others moved and grooved close by.
Lyrics to the track embrace: “We gettin’ f–ked up tonight. We gon’ f–k up the night,” and “Come and cuff it, cuff it, cuff it, cuff it, baby.”
The jovial night for Lewis-Martin, 63, was a far cry from a day earlier when she was led right into a Manhattan courtroom in cuffs to face bribery, conspiracy and cash laundering costs.
The embattled ex-Adams aide allegedly traded favors to 2 actual property buyers in change for greater than $100,000 in bribes – which funded a Porsche for her DJ son and different luxuries, prosecutors mentioned.
The years-long scheme noticed Lewis-Martin allegedly abuse her energy as senior adviser to the mayor by recklessly fast-tracking metropolis Division of Buildings permits for the rooftop bar Glass Ceiling in Koreatown and the 4-star Resort on Rivington within the Decrease East Aspect for hotelier Mayank Dwivedi and actual property investor Raizada Vaid, court docket papers state.
Lewis-Martin’s son, Glenn Martin II, and the 2 builders have been additionally charged.
The alleged conspiracy noticed the general public servant allegedly insulate herself by utilizing her son, who professionally goes by DJ Suave Luciano, as an middleman for the builders to make “asks” of her.
The builders in flip showered her son with two $50,000 checks, promised to foster his vogue line and lent him a hand as he tried to open a Chick-fil-A franchise, the paperwork contend.
Martin II, 38, deposited the checks in an account shared together with his mom, after which transferred $50,000 to his enterprise, Suave Productions, earlier than utilizing it to subject a $113,000 cashier’s verify to purchase a 2023 Porsche Panamera, which he couldn’t afford on his personal, based on court docket papers.
The remaining money was spent on unspecified luxurious gadgets and different private bills.
By utilizing DJ Suave’s financial institution accounts, Lewis-Martin additionally laundered the cash, prosecutors alleged.
Lewis-Martin surrendered to authorities early Thursday, arriving at Manhattan Supreme Court docket sporting a leopard-print prime and daring pink lipstick alongside together with her son. She pleaded not responsible to the fees within the four-count indictment.
Her lawyer, Arthur Aidala, afterward blasted the raps as “preposterous” — and claimed that the alleged bribes have been a part of a “business arrangement” between Martin II and the businessmen that was “totally legitimate.”
“Ingrid knew nothing about it! Nothing, zero, zilch,” Aidala mentioned.
Lewis-Martin abruptly resigned from Metropolis Corridor on Sunday, a few month earlier than she was scheduled to give up.
Martin II, Vaid and Dwivedi all pleaded not responsible as effectively. All 4 have been launched with out bail and are due again in court docket Monday.
