Bribe-taking officials in New York: why 70 Housing Department employees were arrested

On Tuesday, February 6, 70 employees of the nation's largest regional housing authority, NYCHA charged within the framework of the classic “classic pay-for-play” corruption scheme. According to New York Post, over the course of 10 years, the defendants received bribes totaling $2 million.

Among the NYCHA workers charged in the largest single-day bribery case in DOJ history are a father who boasted of luxury vacations around the world, an administrator dubbed a “hero,” a local project manager selected to participate in a “leadership academy,” and even an employee who was once suspended for appearing naked in bed with a woman during a video call with employees.

The charges brought by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York represent the largest number of federal bribery charges filed in a single day in the history of the Justice Department.

“Rather than acting in the best interests of NYCHA residents, New York City or taxpayers, the 70 defendants indicted today allegedly used their NYCHA jobs to line their own pockets,” said U.S. Attorney Damien Williams.

List of some “famous” NYCHA workers:

Dwarka Rupnarain

According to court documents, Dwarka Rupnarain allegedly received at least $83 in bribes from contracts worth $100. He worked as a manager at three different Bronx housing projects between 508 and 000.

The 63-year-old's social media feeds are filled with snapshots from epic overseas holidays, showing his family frolicking on beaches, raising glasses of champagne and smiling amid Italian landscapes in Venice and Rome. His Facebook profile reveals a love of luxury European sports cars.

On the subject: A man posed as an immigration lawyer in New York and took huge amounts of money from migrants.

Rigoberto Charries

Prosecutors say Rigoberto Charriz pocketed at least $70 of the $000 in contracts. He worked as a gardener or manager from 377 to 000 at six different residential projects in Brooklyn and Queens.

A little over a year ago, Charriz, 34, was selected to participate in the NYCHA Leadership Coaching and Mentoring Academy, a 16-week program aimed at developing “leadership and management skills through mentoring.”

He says he is guided by Mark Twain's quote, “The secret of success is getting started,” according to his profile on the Academy of Leadership website.

“My message to everyone is this: if you want to achieve something in life, go for it and be relentless; don’t give up or take no for an answer,” Charriz wrote in a separate profile on NYCHA’s website. What he meant, now we can only guess.

Nimia Branch

Nimia Branch, prosecutors say, took about $3 in bribes from contracts worth $000. Between 22 and 000, he worked as a manager at two Brooklyn housing projects.

In 2020, NYCHA Administrator Eve Trimble named the 44-year-old, who himself grew up in the Brooklyn projects, a “hero” of NYCHA.” “He cares so deeply and is dedicated to his work!” Trimble said about Branch at the time. He gives to others and does not forget about himself.

Alex Tolosano

According to court documents, Alex Tolosano served as a school superintendent in the Bronx from 2016 to 2019 and allegedly pocketed at least $41 of the $000 in contracts.

But it seems that Tolozano, 57, often runs into trouble in his job. In 2022, he was suspended for 30 days after he was caught naked in bed with a woman during a work-related video conference.

A routine work conversation took a spicy turn when a woman’s face suddenly appeared on the video. Moments later, Tolozano stripped naked as his colleagues screamed, “Oh God, no!”

Tolozano, who began working for NYCHA in 1988, was suspended two more times over the years, in 1995 and 2015. In 2014, he received an official reprimand. It remains unclear what led to his previous suspensions. He only stopped working for NYCHA in January of this year.

Elizabeth Tapia

Elizabeth Tapia, while working as a manager in Brooklyn between 2019 and 2021, allegedly accepted bribes. They amounted to a total of $11 on contracts worth $000.

In 2022, a 54-year-old woman was suspended from work for 15 days after she admitted that she had approved the time sheets of her partner, who carried out maintenance work under her supervision, without permission.

According to court documents, she redistributed her partner's work by giving him preferential schedules.

Henry McPhatter

Henry McPhatter received at least $15 in bribes from $000 worth of contracts. He worked as a manager in two buildings in Brooklyn and Harlem from 90 to 000.

In 2020, McPhatter, 44, was suspended from work for eight days after he admitted charging a subordinate $50 to review a resume using his work computer.

Juan Mercado

Juan Mercado, 49, allegedly received bribes totaling $314 from contracts worth at least $300 between 1 and 761.

According to court documents, Mercado has worked as a property manager at three different NYCHA developments since 2013. Last year he received a salary of $99 for this job.

Among others who distinguished themselves:

• Nirmal Lorik allegedly received $153 from contracts worth approximately $000.
• Jose Hernandez, according to prosecutors, took $95 in bribes from contracts worth $000.
• Veronica Hallman, according to court documents, took $80 in bribes from contracts worth about $000.
• Frankie Villanieva reportedly pocketed $50 from $000 worth of contracts.
• Victor de Los Santos pocketed $35 from contracts worth about $000.
• Patrick Butler took $39 in bribes from contracts worth $000.