A Brooklyn real estate mogul accused of funneling illegal campaign contributions from the Turkish government to New York Mayor Eric Adams plans to plead guilty to a conspiracy charge, according to a letter filed Monday by federal prosecutors submitted.
According to the letterthe United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York planned to file charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud against Erden Arkan in connection with donating straw to Adams. The letter states that Arkan plans to plead guilty, the first in Adams’ letter. federal corruption case to do that.
Arkan is the owner of real estate construction company KSK, which was searched for last year by federal investigators. He was one of many people involved in one corruption charges against Adams in September, identified as “Businessman-5,” who hosted a dinner in 2021 at which Adams personally solicited illegal campaign contributions, the indictment states.
Gothamist reported that KSK And another construction company from Brooklyn did not disclose campaign donations to Adams.
Adams was indicted in September on federal charges including bribery, wire fraud and conspiracy in which he allegedly used straw donations to obtain public financing under the city’s generous matching fund program. Adams was accused of accepting these straw donations along with luxury travel from a Turkish official and others who hoped to buy influence for them.
Adams pleaded not guilty and vowed to remain in office while he fights the charges. His lawyer told the Associated Press that the guilty plea will have no impact on his case and that “Arkan repeatedly said Mayor Adams had no knowledge of his actions.”
The charge is one of many swirling around Adams. Last week, his former chief adviser was indicted accusations of bribery by Manhattan prosecutors.
Information for Arkan’s attorney was not immediately available.