A Manhattan decide dropped fees final week towards an actual property developer linked to the bribery scandal that introduced down former metropolis Buildings Commissioner and one-time Queens Metropolis Council Member Eric Ulrich.
Ulrich nonetheless faces felony fees in 4 different circumstances introduced by the Manhattan District Lawyer’s Workplace and town Division of Investigation (DOI). The previous lawmaker has repeatedly denied the allegations towards him.
In September 2023, Manhattan District Lawyer Alvin Bragg accused Ulrich of allegedly misusing his authority all through his profession, not solely as Buildings Commissioner within the Adams Administration however in each place of energy he had ever held. Ulrich was accused of a wide range of crimes throughout 5 separate circumstances, together with in depth bribery and unlawful playing fees.
A kind of circumstances alleged that Mark Caller, an actual property developer with the Marcal Group, had used his relationship with Ulrich to affect the Division of Metropolis Planning to approve a zoning change for a property he owned and wished to develop. Prosecutors additionally alleged that Ulrich used his place as Buildings Commissioner to attach Caller with different high-ranking officers and expedite requests.
In return, prosecutors alleged, Caller secured Ulrich a reduced house in a luxurious Rockaway constructing.
Nevertheless, Justice Daniel Conviser, the decide overseeing the circumstances, tossed the indictment involving Caller on Jan. 23, stating that prosecutors had didn’t current the “full story” to the grand jury that indicted Caller over two years in the past, in line with the New York Instances.
Former Councilman Eric Ulrich (Photograph courtesy of Ulrich’s workplace)
The decide dominated that prosecutors had failed to supply an “accurate picture” of the connection between Ulrich and Caller, noting that Ulrich had offered lawful help to Caller for years, beginning when he was a Council Member. Conviser argued that the jury would have had to attract the “implausible conclusion” that Caller determined to bribe Ulrich to obtain the identical advantages that he had been receiving for years, the Actual Deal reviews.
Conviser additional dominated that there was no proof that Ulrich acquired a greater deal on the house than what Caller supplied to others and famous that prosecutors had alleged that bribery had taken place between Dec. 17, 2021 and March 18, 2022. Nevertheless, conversations between Ulrich and Caller concerning the house didn’t start till March 19, 2022, the decide famous.
Caller’s legal professional Ben Brafman had filed a movement to dismiss the case final yr.
The indictment represented the best greenback worth of any of the 5 circumstances towards Ulrich, the New York Instances reported.
In a press release on his social media account, Ulrich welcomed the choice to dismiss the case.
“I am grateful for the Judge’s decision to dismiss this case against me,” he wrote on Fb. “As I’ve stated from day one, I’m harmless till confirmed responsible, not the opposite means round.
“And I am entitled to my day in court where all the facts and evidence can be presented fairly and transparently. I trust that in the end, a jury of my peers, not the court of public opinion, will restore my good name and reputation.”
In line with widespread reviews, the Manhattan DA’s workplace has indicated that it’ll proceed with the 4 remaining indictments, which embody accusations of bribe receiving, conspiracy and providing a false instrument for submitting.
Ulrich’s alleged associates in these circumstances, additionally going through bribery counts, embody enterprise homeowners Joseph Livreri, Michael Mazzio, former DOB consultant Paul Grego and former Division of Correction Officer Victor Truta.
In line with courtroom paperwork, these people are accused of providing Ulrich each money and items, which Bragg fees have been used to fund playing and unlawful casinos. Ulrich allegedly additionally didn’t file his annual monetary disclosures from 2017 to 2021.
The DA’s workplace alleged in September 2023 that Ulrich used his place to expedite well being inspections for the Livreri brothers’ restaurant, “Aldo’s Pizza“, and — at the request of Livreri’s brother — remove a vacate order for “Fortunato Brothers Bakery,” which had been shut down because of a fireplace.
Ulrich can be accused of utilizing his place to resolve licensing points with the Division of Client and Employee Safety for his affiliate Mazzio’s towing firm.
He additionally allegedly secured a metropolis place for Mazzio’s daughter, which included a $20,000 increase, and gave his associates entry to high-ranking authorities officers by occasions and dinners, in line with courtroom paperwork.
Prosecutors alleged that he additionally issued a “Temporary Certificate of Occupancy” to ensure that Grego’s purchasers to safe a state liquor license and tried to rent and assign personnel primarily based on Grego’s choice.
In whole, Ulrich was accused of accepting greater than $150,000 in bribes throughout the 5 indictments, which included a Salvador Dali portray, Mets season tickets, a customized go well with and money for playing.
Ulrich, a Republican who had beforehand served as consultant of the thirty second Metropolis Council in southwestern Queens, was appointed as buildings commissioner by former Mayor Eric Adams in Could 2022, however resigned six months later when the Manhattan DA’s workplace launched the investigation. Ulrich was one of many first members of the Adams Administration to face legal fees, with a number of different high-ranking members of the Administration later accused of a variety of offenses.
Adams himself was indicted on federal fees for wire fraud, bribery, soliciting unlawful international marketing campaign contributions and conspiracy in September 2024. The Justice Division later dismissed the costs towards the previous Mayor in April 2025.
