NYC councilmember Farah Louis, sister probed in federal bribery investigation
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Federal prosecutors are investigating whether the sister of a New York City Council member and a top aide to Gov. Kathy Hochul accepted bribes or kickbacks tied to city funding directed to an immigrant housing provider, according to a search warrant obtained by The Associated Press.
The March 19 arrest warrant seeks evidence of possible criminal conduct involving Assemblywoman Farah Louis, a Democrat from Brooklyn; his sister, Debbie Louis, Hochul’s assistant secretary for intergovernmental affairs for New York City; and Edu Hermelyn, husband of Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party.
A spokesman for Hochul said Debbie Louis was placed on leave last week after the governor became aware of the federal corruption investigation. A person who answered a phone number associated with Louis ended the call after the AP asked about the investigation, and the AP reported that messages left for Farah Louis and Hermelyn were not returned.
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New York City Councilwoman Farah Louis is reportedly under federal investigation for an alleged bribery scheme. (Jason Mendez/Getty Images for Brooklyn Academy of Music)
According to the warrant, investigators found the three were affiliated with BHRAGS Home Care Inc., a Brooklyn nonprofit that has historically provided in-home care to sick and elderly clients. It examines whether he received aid in return for the actions carried out on his behalf.
As the influx of immigrants to New York City intensifies in 2022, BHRAGS has expanded its work to include emergency shelter operations for asylum seekers and other homeless services. Since then, public records show the group has received more than a dozen contracts from the city’s Department of Homeless Services valued at more than $200 million.
“This is political persecution by the far right, targeting immigrants and the leaders who stand with them,” said Rodneyse Bichotte, a political insider affiliated with Hermelyn he told the New York Post On Monday. “There are no charges at this time and the facts will eventually lead to this case being dismissed on merit.”
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An attorney for BHRAGS executive director Roberto Samedy declined to comment to the AP.
The warrant also identified Edouardo St., a former New York Police Department sergeant who retired in 2023. He also wants records of money transfers and communications related to Fort. That same year, records show, his firm, Fort NYC Security, received a $3 million contract from the Department of Homeless Services. AP calls and St. Emails seeking comment from Fort were not responded to.
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The existence of a search warrant does not mean charges are imminent. This just shows that federal investigators convinced a judge that they had sufficient grounds to search and seize potential evidence.
The investigation comes amid a broader review of how New York City secured emergency housing contracts during the immigration crisis, when the arrival of tens of thousands of asylum seekers strained the city’s housing system and prompted officials under then-Mayor Eric Adams to rapidly expand housing capacity through outside providers.
Some of these regulations have drawn criticism from observers and political opponents who question the speed, scale and oversight of the contracting process.
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All of the people named in the warrant have ties to Brooklyn’s Democratic Party political establishment, which has been rocked by a series of ethics controversies in recent years.
Hermelyn, who once served as a senior adviser to Adams, resigned after questions arose about whether her role as Brooklyn district leader conflicted with rules barring some dual government positions. He also continued to advise former Gov. Andrew Cuomo during Cuomo’s unsuccessful mayoral campaign.
The Trump administration, led by deputy director of fraud investigations J.D. Vance, has prioritized federal law enforcement investigations across the country.
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Just this week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s Treasury Department announced that it was offering a large financial incentive to whistleblowers to help uncover fraud and that would-be whistleblowers treasury.gov websiteHe told Fox News on Monday that the administration has already received more than 700 tips.
The Treasury Department’s tip page says eligible whistleblowers can receive 10% to 30% of monetary sanctions collected for successful actions.
While Minnesota fraud among the state’s Somali community has been making headlines so far thanks to independent journalist Nick Shirley’s reporting, Bessent actually praised that state for having a level of transparency not allowed in California or New York.
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“That’s why that young man, Nick Shirley, was able to go see him. scamsbecause it was: That’s the name of the facility; this is the address; Bessent said: “Oh, look, this is an empty storefront. There’s no one here. New York, California is hiding this.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
