NYC Council member, Gov. Hochul aide face federal bribery investigation
Federal prosecutors are investigating a New York City Council member and an aide to Gov. Kathy Hochul in connection to charges against leaders of a homeless shelter nonprofit accused of stealing more than $1 million.
The councilmember and the aide are sisters.
Feds probing Farah and Debbie Louis
City Council member Farah Louis and her sister, Debbie Louis, who serves as the governor's assistant secretary of New York City governmental affairs, have not been charged, but prosecutors are also looking into whether they accepted bribes related to the alleged scheme.
Sources told CBS News New York political reporter Marcia Kramer that Debbie Louis was placed on leave last week after the governor learned of the corruption investigation.
In response to the investigation into Farah Louis, a City Council spokesperson said, "The council takes any potential misconduct extremely seriously. New Yorkers deserve confidence in their government. It is essential that the federal investigation proceed fairly and expeditiously to bring this matter to a resolution."
Latest on homeless shelter investigation
A newly unsealed indictment describes an alleged corruption scheme within a homeless shelter nonprofit called BHRAGS Home Care. Three of the four people charged in connection with the nonprofit appeared in court Tuesday and entered not guilty pleas.
Prosecutors said Tuesday that two of the nonprofit's leaders, Roberto Samedy and Jean Tirelus, pocketed hundreds of thousands of dollars earmarked for economic growth and affordable housing.
The nonprofit receives millions in taxpayer dollars.
"We'll definitely be looking into these because any allegation, especially if it's being substantiated of improper action and behavior, is one that has to be followed up on," Mayor Zohran Mamdani said.
Investigators say the accused also received kickbacks for steering contracts worth millions to businesses controlled by two other people charged: Edouardo St. Fort and Miguel Jorge.
Samedy, Tirelus and Jorge appeared in court Tuesday and entered not guilty pleas. The defendants and their attorneys did not comment as they left court. St. Fort, a former NYPD sergeant whose security firm earned taxpayer dollars for working with the nonprofit, did not appear in court.
