New York — A retired New York City police sergeant, whose company provided security for the city’s migrant shelters, has been indicted on bribery charges in a case. Corruption investigation Associated with New York City Council Member and Assistant to New York Governor Kathy Hochul.
Eduardo St. Fort was arrested in Massachusetts on Tuesday, court records show. The bribery case, filed in Brooklyn federal court, remained secret until Tuesday morning. A message seeking comment was left with the attorney assigned to represent St. Fort.
St. Fort and his company, Fort NYC Security, were named in a federal search warrant obtained by The Associated Press that requested information about whether City Councilwoman Farrah Lewis and her sister, Hochul aide Debbie Lewis, accepted bribes or kickbacks in connection with the allocation of city funds to the operator of a migrant shelter. Debbie Lewis has been placed on leave, the governor’s office said.
According to St. Fort’s arrest warrant, he is charged with conspiracy to commit crimes against the United States, bribery involving programs receiving federal funds, and violating a law prohibiting interstate travel for illegal activities.
Fort NYC Security was a subcontractor for two nonprofits that provide homeless services for the city, BHRAGS Home Care Corp., records show. and Bronx Family Network Inc. BHRAGS Home Care was also mentioned in the search warrant. A spokesman for the organization declined to comment.
According to city records, the city agreed to pay Fort NYC Security more than $7 million to provide security services from 2023 to 2027, including at a Bronx hotel used as a homeless shelter.
Records from the city comptroller’s office show that five of the six contracts awarded to Fort NYC Security were done on a contingency basis, meaning the city did not have to solicit bids and awarded them to the lowest responsible bidder.
St. Fort retired from the NYPD in 2023, according to a police spokesman.
Messages left for Farrah Lewis and Debbie Lewis were not returned.
A City Hall spokesperson said the Legislature “takes any potential misconduct seriously.”
“New Yorkers deserve to trust their government,” the spokesman said. “It is imperative that the federal investigation proceed fairly and expeditiously to resolve this matter.”