Former Adams aide accused of accepting diamond earrings as bribe, prosecutors say
Manhattan prosecutors on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, offered new details about bribery allegations against Ingrid Lewis‑Martin, the former chief adviser to Mayor Eric Adams, saying she received jewelry and other gifts in exchange for pressuring city regulators to approve building projects.
In a 170‑page court filing, prosecutors described communications between Ms. Lewis‑Martin and city officials on behalf of two developers who had run into delays with the Department of Buildings and said the developers established a relationship with her son, Glenn Martin II, as they sought help getting projects approved.
Prosecutors said the developers gave Ms. Lewis‑Martin bribes that included a pair of 2‑carat diamond earrings worth $3,000. They described one episode in which developer Raizada Vaid texted Ms. Lewis‑Martin, "Please call your DOB contact," saying a hotel renovation on the Lower East Side was "stuck." Two days later she contacted the department's acting commissioner; prosecutors said she persisted after staff raised safety concerns and the permit was ultimately approved.
Ms. Lewis‑Martin was initially charged in December 2024 in a four‑count indictment that accused her, her son and two developers, Mr. Vaid and Mayank Dwivedi, of participating in "a long‑running bribery, money‑laundering and conspiracy scheme." She resigned just before those charges became public.
ingrid lewis-martin, eric adams, glenn martin ii, raizada vaid, mayank dwivedi, alvin l. bragg, manhattan district attorney, department of buildings, bribery allegations, 2-carat diamond earrings, building permit approval, hotel renovation lower east side, 170-page court filing, money-laundering conspiracy, four-count indictment, five indictments, resigned before charges, pressuring city regulators, fast-track approvals, steered contracts, protected bike lanes, brooklyn protected bike lanes, cash and crab cakes, home renovations, television appearance, acting commissioner, safety concerns