Six people, including a former NYPD cop, have been indicted in a straw donor scheme allegedly cooked up to try to curry favor with then-mayoral candidate Eric Adams.
Ringleader Dwayne Montgomery — a former NYPD inspector and current head of integrity for a municipal workers union — used friends and relatives as straw donors to Adams’ mayoral campaign to cash in on the city’s generous matching fund system for political donations, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office alleges.
Neither Mayor Adams nor any current city workers are accused of wrongdoing in the case. Adams’ campaign has denied any involvement in the scheme.
Prosecutors allege that between 2020 and 2021, Montgomery, 64, orchestrated 23 straw donations but reimbursed them later with his own money to the tune of $40,000 — all so he could get around donation caps.
In New York City, an individual can only donate up to $2,000; a business owner who wants city contracts can only donate $400. Under the Campaign Finance Board’s matching program, if someone donated $250, the city would chip in eight times more — or another $2,000.
Six people have been indicted for allegedly making straw-donor contributions to the Eric Adams mayoral campaign. Paul Martinka
Shamsuddin Risa, the owner of a construction company, held a fundraiser to raise money for the campaign. Curtis Means/POOLMontgomery and co-defendant Shamsuddin Riza, who owns a construction company, held a fundraiser in Queens on Aug. 25, 2021, to raise money for the campaign, prosecutors say.
Montgomery also allegedly worked with an unnamed campaign employee to help organize a virtual fundraiser for Adams a year earlier in August 2020.
Riza, 70, orchestrated eight of his own straw donations with the help of Montgomery and Ronald Peek, 65, the DA alleges.
Shahid Mushtaq was instructed by Riza on how to carry out a straw donor scheme. Curtis Means/POOL
Millicent Redick helped Montgomery get ‘at least a dozen $200 contributions in Harlem.’ Curtis Means/POOL
Dwayne Montgomery was the ringleader of the scheme. Curtis Means/POOLRiza then instructed Yahya Mushtaq and Shahid Mushtaq — who own construction safety company Ecosafety Consultants — on how to carry out a straw donor scheme.
The duo subsequently made donations in their employees’ name without telling them, prosecutors claim.
Riza also roped in his accountant Millicent Redick, 77, to help Montgomery get at least a dozen $200 contributions in Harlem, the DA claims.
“We allege a deliberate scheme to game the system in a blatant attempt to gain power,” District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement. “The New York City Campaign Finance Board program is meant to support our democracy and amplify the voices of New York City voters. When the integrity of that program is corrupted, all New Yorkers suffer.”
Montgomery, Riza, Redick and Shaid Mushtaq were arraigned in Manhattan Supreme Court on Friday morning, pleaded not guilty and were released without bail. Peek and Yahya Mushtaq will be arraigned at a later date.
DA Alvin Bragg’s office claims the people carried out the scheme so they would have sway with the Adams administration. James Messerschmidt for NY Post
Mayor Adams is not accused of wrongdoing and his campaign has denied any involvement in the scheme. Getty Images FOR ESSENCE“The campaign thanks the District Attorney’s Office for their hard work on behalf of taxpayers,” said Adams’ 2021 campaign spokesperson Evan Thies. “There is no indication that the campaign or the mayor is involved in this case or under investigation. The campaign always held itself to the highest standards and we would never tolerate these actions. The campaign will of course work with the DA’s Office, the Campaign Finance Board, and any relevant authorities.”
Scott Grauman, Shahid Mushtaq’s lawyer, told The Post, “We intend on defending the allegations vigorously.”
Riza’s lawyer Muhammad Ikhlas declined to comment.
With Post wires
