NEW YORK – A significant investigation is unfolding in New York City, focusing on a city council member, Farah Louis, and her sister, Debbie Louis, who is an aide to Governor Kathy Hochul. Federal prosecutors are looking into whether they accepted bribes or kickbacks related to city funds that were allocated for a migrant shelter provider, according to a search warrant obtained by The Associated Press.
The search warrant, signed on March 19, indicates that the investigation may involve Councilmember Farah Louis, a Democrat from Brooklyn, along with her sister Debbie Louis, who serves as Hochul’s assistant secretary of New York City intergovernmental affairs. The investigation also names Edu Hermelyn, who is married to state Assembly member Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, the chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party.
After the corruption investigation came to light, a spokesperson for Governor Hochul confirmed that Debbie Louis had been placed on leave. Attempts to reach both Farah Louis and Edu Hermelyn for comments went unanswered.
The warrant is looking for evidence that could show whether these officials received benefits in exchange for actions concerning BHRAGS Home Care Inc., a nonprofit based in Brooklyn. This organization provides in-home services for the sick and elderly but expanded its mission in 2022 to include emergency shelters for migrants and homeless services, amid a growing number of asylum seekers arriving in the city.
Records reveal that BHRAGS has secured over a dozen contracts totaling more than $200 million from the Department of Homeless Services. Roberto Samedy, the executive director of BHRAGS, declined to provide a comment through his attorney.
The search warrant also requests records of financial transactions and communications involving these officials and Edouardo St. Fort, a former NYPD sergeant who retired in 2023. Notably, in the same year, St. Fort’s security company, Fort NYC Security, received a $3 million contract from the Department of Homeless Services. Efforts to reach St. Fort for comments were also unsuccessful.
It is essential to understand that the existence of a search warrant does not necessarily mean that prosecutors are going to file criminal charges. It simply indicates that investigators have persuaded a judge to allow them to gather more evidence.
This investigation comes at a time when New York City is grappling with the arrival of tens of thousands of migrants, which has stretched the city’s shelter system to its limits. Former Mayor Eric Adams implemented an emergency shelter network and entered into numerous contracts with service providers, some of which have drawn scrutiny from financial watchdogs.
Adams, who is also a Democrat, faced his own set of legal challenges in the past, including an indictment on federal charges concerning bribery and illegal campaign contributions during his time as Brooklyn’s borough president. However, those charges were eventually dropped by the Justice Department.
Both Farah and Debbie Louis, along with Hermelyn, are prominent figures within Brooklyn’s Democratic county committee, which has faced numerous scandals in recent years. Hermelyn briefly served as a senior advisor to Adams before resigning amid controversies over his dual government roles.
As the investigation progresses, it highlights the ongoing challenges New York City faces in managing its resources and addressing the needs of its residents, particularly in these times of increasing pressures from migration and homelessness.
