Six individuals are facing charges related to an alleged plot to funnel tens of thousands of dollars in public funds towards New York City Mayor Eric Adams' campaign in the months leading up to his election. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced the indictment on Friday, emphasizing that neither Mayor Adams nor any current city employees are implicated in the scheme.

The indictment details a straw donor conspiracy allegedly orchestrated by individuals with business interests in the city, hoping to leverage increased donations for political favors. Among those charged are a former NYPD commander with a long-standing relationship with the mayor, and the owners of a construction safety company currently contracted for a Staten Island waste facility project.

District Attorney Bragg stated that the alleged scheme represents a deliberate attempt to manipulate the system for personal gain. He highlighted the importance of the New York City Campaign Finance Board program in upholding democracy and stressed the negative impact of corrupting its integrity.

Prosecutors identify Dwayne Montgomery, a former NYPD inspector and current director of integrity for Teamsters Local 237 (representing municipal workers), as the alleged leader of the operation. Montgomery is accused of recruiting acquaintances to exploit the city's matching funds system, which offers an eight-to-one match for the first $250 donated by a city resident. He purportedly orchestrated over two dozen such donations between 2020 and 2021, while also assisting with Adams' campaign fundraisers. The total amount diverted to the campaign remains unclear.

A spokesperson for the mayor's campaign confirmed a social connection between Adams and Montgomery stemming from their shared NYPD history and subsequent work on criminal justice issues. However, the campaign denies any awareness of the alleged scheme.

The indictment also names Shamsuddin Riza, Millicent Redick, and Ronald Peek for their alleged involvement in organizing the illicit donations. Yahya Mushtaq and Shahid Mushtaq, executives at EcoSafety Consultants (a construction company with existing city contracts), are also implicated. Despite city regulations limiting donations from those with business before the city to $400, the defendants allegedly devised a plan to donate under the names of EcoSafety employees without their consent.

Prosecutors presented evidence, including a recorded phone call and email correspondence, suggesting the intent to circumvent campaign finance rules and secure city contracts. A City Hall spokesperson maintained that Mayor Adams never discussed city business with the defendants, though acknowledging the possibility of casual conversations with Montgomery on other matters.

All defendants are charged with conspiracy, attempted grand larceny, and making false statements. Several defendants have pleaded not guilty or indicated their intention to contest the charges. The mayor's campaign spokesperson pledged cooperation with the campaign finance board and district attorney's office. Mayor Adams has faced prior scrutiny regarding fundraising practices, having been fined earlier this year for campaign finance violations. A watchdog group representative noted that while it's premature to judge the mayor's involvement in this specific case, the indictment demonstrates the effectiveness of the city's public financing system in detecting and deterring attempts to manipulate the system.