Former NYC Housing Liaison Charged in Bribery and PPP Fraud Case

By Michael Phillips | NYBayNews

Federal prosecutors have charged a former senior New York City official with bribery, fraud, and extortion, alleging he used his City Hall role to run what authorities described as a “side hustle” of pay-to-play schemes while entrusted with representing some of the city’s most vulnerable residents.

According to a January 13 press release from the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York unsealed an indictment charging Anthony Herbert, also known as Tony Herbert, with multiple federal crimes stemming from his time in the mayor’s office.

A Position of Trust — Allegedly Abused

Herbert, 61, served from 2022 to 2025 in the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit under former Mayor Eric Adams, most recently as Citywide Public Housing Liaison. In that role, he acted as a primary link between City Hall and residents and leadership of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), a system serving more than 400,000 New Yorkers.

Prosecutors allege Herbert exploited that access for personal gain.

Alleged Pay-to-Play Schemes

The 25-page indictment outlines two bribery and kickback schemes:

• Security Company Bribes: Herbert allegedly accepted roughly $11,000 in cash from a security company executive in exchange for pressuring city officials to steer NYCHA-related contracts toward that firm.
• Funeral Home Kickbacks: Prosecutors say he took about $5,000 from a funeral home director while pushing city officials to approve payments under a public burial assistance program, directing taxpayer-funded business to that funeral home.

In total, the alleged bribery schemes netted Herbert approximately $16,000.

Separate PPP Loan Fraud

Federal authorities also charged Herbert with fraud tied to a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan application submitted in April 2021, before he joined City Hall. Prosecutors allege he applied for and received more than $20,000 in COVID-era relief funds for a bakery business that did not exist, using false documentation to secure the loan.

Charges and Court Proceedings

Herbert faces six federal counts, including bribery, honest services wire fraud, wire fraud, federal program fraud, and extortion under color of official right. Some counts carry potential penalties of up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

He was arrested January 13 and arraigned the same day before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron in Manhattan federal court. Herbert pleaded not guilty and was released on a $50,000 bond with conditions, including no contact with individuals tied to the alleged bribery schemes. The case is assigned to Judge Valerie Caproni, with a control date set for January 30.

Broader Corruption Scrutiny

In announcing the charges, U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said New Yorkers “deserve honest and competent government officials,” emphasizing that the allegations involve abuse of public office for personal enrichment. IRS-Criminal Investigation officials echoed that sentiment, pointing to the misuse of authority and taxpayer-funded programs.

While prosecutors stressed that Herbert is presumed innocent unless proven guilty, the case adds to ongoing federal scrutiny of corruption risks within New York City government — particularly around NYCHA contracts and pandemic-era relief programs that were vulnerable to fraud.

For residents already struggling with affordability and trust in local institutions, the allegations raise uncomfortable questions about oversight, accountability, and whether City Hall has done enough to police its own.