Retired NYPD Sergeant Arrested in Federal Corruption Probe

A retired New York City Police sergeant, Edouardo St. Fort, has been indicted on federal bribery charges. St. Fort's company, Fort NYC Security, provided security services for the city's migrant shelters.

St. Fort was apprehended in Massachusetts on Tuesday, according to court documents. The case, filed in Brooklyn federal court, outlines serious allegations against the former officer.

Details of the Federal Charges

The indictment charges St. Fort with several offenses. These include conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, violation of the travel act, and federal program bribery.

St. Fort is also charged with bribery involving programs receiving federal funds, and violating a law that prohibits interstate travel for unlawful activities. A lawyer assigned to represent St. Fort has been contacted for comment.

Links to City Council Member and Governor's Aide

The investigation centers on whether bribes or kickbacks were accepted in connection with city funds designated for a migrant shelter operator. Fort NYC Security and St. Fort were named in a federal search warrant obtained by The Associated Press.

This warrant sought information regarding City Council member Farah Louis and her sister, Debbie Louis, who serves as an aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul. Following the allegations, the governor's office confirmed that Debbie Louis has been placed on administrative leave.

Security Contracts Under Scrutiny

Records indicate that Fort NYC Security operated as a subcontractor for two nonprofit organizations providing homeless services: BHRAGS Home Care Corp. and Bronx Family Network Inc. BHRAGS Home Care was also mentioned in the initial search warrant.

City records show that Fort NYC Security secured an agreement with the city potentially exceeding $7 million to cover security services between 2023 and 2027. These services included security at a Bronx hotel utilized as a homeless shelter.

Emergency Contract Awards Questioned

Further scrutiny of the contracts reveals a pattern of expedited awarding processes. City comptroller records show that five out of the six contracts given to Fort NYC Security were awarded on an emergency basis.

This emergency designation allowed the city to bypass the standard procedure of soliciting competitive bids and awarding contracts to the lowest responsible bidder.

Official Responses to the Investigation

Messages seeking comment from Farah Louis and Debbie Louis were not returned by the time of reporting. A spokesperson for the City Council acknowledged the seriousness of the situation.

The spokesperson stated that the legislative body "takes any potential misconduct extremely seriously." They emphasized that New Yorkers expect confidence in their government and stressed the need for the federal investigation to "proceed fairly and expeditiously to bring this matter to a resolution."