LOWER MANHATTAN (WABC) — Former New York City buildings commissioner Eric Ulrich was charged Wednesday in five separate indictments with accepting more than $150,000 in bribes while serving in public roles.
Ulrich, 38, was accused of misusing his authority in every public service position he held – as a New York City Councilmember, then a Senior Advisor to the Mayor of New York City, and finally as DOB Commissioner – to benefit his friends and associates in exchange for bribes.
“We allege that Eric Ulrich accepted or solicited more than $150,000 worth of bribes in less than two years by monetizing each elected and appointed role he held in New York City government. At every possible turn, he allegedly used his taxpayer-funded positions as City Councilmember, then Senior Mayoral Advisor, and finally Department of Buildings Commissioner to line his pockets,” said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Ulrich resigned from Mayor Eric Adams’ administration in November after the district attorney’s office questioned him and seized his cell phone.
He was charged with six others: Pizza parlor owners Joseph and Anthony Livreri; towing company owner Michael Mazzio; real estate developer Mark Caller; buildings department filing representative Paul Grego and former correction officer Victor Truta.
All of them faced varying counts of bribery.
According to court documents, since at least 2021, Ulrich solicited and received more than $150,000 worth of cash and gifts from multiple sources and failed to disclose income on each of his annual financial disclosures he was required to file with the New York City Conflicts of Interests Board pursuant to City law from 2017 through 2021.
An attorney for Ulrich, Sam Braverman, said his client intended to plead not guilty in an arraignment scheduled for later Wednesday.
Previously, Ulrich represented a Queens district on the City Council, first winning his seat in a special election in 2009.
(ABC News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.)
ALSO READ | Hurricane Lee: Latest path, updates
———-
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
