New York Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin has been charged with bribery and related offenses by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
According to the allegations, Benjamin, 46, used his official authority as a New York state senator to direct a state-funded grant to an organization controlled by a real estate developer, CC-1, in exchange for campaign contributions made and procured by CC-1.
The charges include bribery, honest services wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit those offenses. Benjamin is also charged with two counts of falsifying records in connection with the preparation of contribution forms that falsely reported certain contributions made by CC-1 as being made by other individuals, and false statements Benjamin made in a questionnaire he submitted while seeking to become Lieutenant Governor.
Benjamin surrendered to the FBI in Manhattan this morning and was presented before United States Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang. The case has been assigned to United States District Judge J. Paul Oetken.
“As alleged, Brian Benjamin used his power as a New York state senator to secure a state-funded grant in exchange for contributions to his own political campaigns,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. “By doing so, Benjamin abused his power and effectively used state funds to support his political campaigns.”
The FBI and the New York City Department of Investigation (DOI) worked together to investigate the case.
According to the allegations in the Indictment filed today in Manhattan federal court, from at least in or about 2019, up to and including at least in or about 2021, Benjamin participated in a scheme to obtain campaign contributions from CC-1 in exchange for Benjamin’s use of his official authority and influence as a New York State senator to obtain a $50,000 state-funded grant for a non-profit organization controlled by CC-1.
Benjamin and others acting on his behalf or at his direction then engaged in a series of lies and deceptions to cover up his scheme, including by falsifying campaign donor forms, misleading city regulators, and providing false information on vetting forms he completed while seeking to be the Lieutenant Governor of New York State.
The bribery scheme involved Benjamin meeting with CC-1 in or about March 2019, telling CC-1 that he was running for the office of New York City Comptroller, and asking that CC-1 procure a number of small-dollar contributions from different individuals for that campaign.
BENJAMIN REAL full name: Brian Benjamin
Exact criminal charges: bribery, honest services wire fraud, conspiracy, falsifying records
City and state: New York
Exact DATE: N/A
Sentence or outcome: Currently charged and awaiting trial
Dollar amounts: $50,000 state-funded grant
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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