Bribery Probe Hits Dem Governor’s Inner Circle Over Migrant Shelter Deals

An aide for New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, a New York City council member, and a retired NYPD sergeant are all tied to a federal bribery investigation involving migrant shelter contracts, according to the Associated Press.

Edouardo St. Fort, a former NYPD sergeant, was arrested Tuesday in Massachusetts. Prosecutors allege he was involved in a scheme connected to contracts awarded to provide services at the shelters.

A March 19 search warrant also names Council Member Farah Louis, a Democrat representing part of Brooklyn; her sister, Debbie Louis, who serves as Hochul’s assistant secretary of New York City intergovernmental affairs; and Edu Hermelyn, the husband of state Assemblyman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, who is also chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party.

Authorities are seeking information on whether the accused received improper payments tied to contracts issued to BHRAGS Home Care Inc., the AP reported Monday. The nonprofit group expanded its services to include emergency migrant shelters in 2022 and subsequently received more than a dozen contracts. St. Fort’s company, Fort NYC Security, provided security at the shelters as a subcontractor for BHRAGS and another nonprofit serving the city’s homeless population, Bronx Family Network Inc.

Five of the six contracts handed to St. Fort’s company were issued on an emergency basis, allowing the city to bypass competitive bidding requirements, the AP reported.

Debbie Louis was placed on leave last week after Hochul got wind of the probe, a spokesperson for the governor said. Sources told the New York Post that the probe does not involve Louis’ role in the governor’s office or state funds.

St. Fort has been indicted on charges including conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, bribery involving programs receiving federal funds, and violating a law prohibiting interstate travel for unlawful activities, according to the AP.

New York City was hit with an influx of more than 200,000 migrants during the Biden administration as millions were ushered across the southern border and released en masse. Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott bused some of the migrants to New York in an effort to put pressure on sanctuary cities and draw attention to their policies. As a result, the city was forced to scramble to find housing for the newly arrived migrants, flipping hotels into shelters and erecting a tent facility on Randall’s Island to accommodate the influx.