Former NY Commissioner Accused of Illegal Gambling in Bribery Scheme

Article by : Erik Gibbs Sep 15, 2023

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A former top New York City commissioner was arrested on Wednesday after being accused of accepting several forms of bribery for specific political favours.

The bribes were reported to come in cash, baseball tickets, a piece of artwork, a discounted luxury apartment, and others that authorities claim may still need to be identified.

The bribes were received by the commissioner and at least five different associates. These were all offered to the commissioner in exchange for political favours and access to high-ranking officials, including Mayor Eric Adams.

Former NYC head of the building’s department, Eric Ulrich, and six co-defendants were charged with conspiracy related to bribery schemes. Each accused pleaded not guilty during a joint arraignment at the Manhattan Criminal Court on Wednesday afternoon.

In addition to serving as Adams’ buildings chief, 38-year-old Ulrich was a city councilman and senior adviser to the mayor in his first term.

According to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Ulrich misused his authority as a government official to orchestrate a scheme and illegally profit from his position. According to prosecutors, he collected about $150,000 in gifts and cash payments over two years.

While the investigation is still being conducted to identify how the accused spent these funds, authorities claim that much of Ulrich’s bribes were spent on gambling at legal and illegal casinos.

Ulrich pleaded not guilty to all 16 charges of bribery, conspiracy and providing false financial information at Manhattan Criminal Court. Ulrich’s attorney, Sam Braverman, issued a statement criticizing Bragg’s case handling.

Braverman commented that Ulrich has consistently asserted his innocence during this process, and today’s proceedings were consistent with his position.

Braverman also pointed out that when thousands of phone calls and documents are meticulously scrutinized, being viewed with a predisposition toward guilt can cast anyone in a negative light.

Last November, Ulrich stepped down from his position as the city’s commissioner of buildings just six months after taking office. This decision came amid reports suggesting that he was under investigation by prosecutors in connection with illegal gambling and organized crime.

Ulrich and his co-defendants are scheduled to return to court on October 23.