A Brooklyn real estate mogul who allegedly showered Mayor Eric Adams with illegal donations at a Turkish diplomat’s behest will admit to committing a crime, the feds said Friday — in the first guilty plea to arise out of the historic corruption case.
Erden Arkan, the Turkish-born owner of KSK Construction Group in Williamsburg, “has indicated that he wishes to plead guilty” after being charged with conspiracy and wire fraud raps, prosecutors said.
Arkan is accused of helping arrange for phony “straw donations” to Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign at the direction of Reyhan Özgür, a Turkish official who allegedly arranged for Adams to receive free or discounted travel on Turkish Airlines flights.
KSK owner Erden Arkan Instagram/@teachstats
Erden Arkan seen in a social media photo. instragram @erden1949
Eric Adams is seen at the South Street Helipad on December 19, 2024. GC ImagesÖzgür was allegedly lobbying Adams to help fast track the opening of the country’s consulate building, court docs said.
“I’m so busy, thank you,” he told The Post after being reached over the phone.
His lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
For his part, Adams has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in the historic indictment of a sitting NYC mayor.
Adams’ attorney Alex Spiro said the news of the plea didn’t change anything for the embattled mayor.
“We know from the government’s own interviews that Mr. Arkan repeatedly said that Mayor Adams had no knowledge of his actions,” Spiro said. “Mr. Arkan’s conduct will have no bearing on the Mayor’s case whatsoever.”
