New York City Mayor's Aide Charged with Tampering with Evidence
The allegations arise as federal investigators initiate a comprehensive inquiry into Eric Adams' administration and his 2021 campaign.
TroibNews 
**NEW YORK** — Federal prosecutors charged a former City Hall official on Tuesday with witness tampering and destruction of evidence in investigations into New York City Mayor Eric Adams' administration and 2021 campaign.
Mohamed Bahi, who stepped down from his position as a senior liaison in the mayor's community affairs unit on Monday night, allegedly instructed others to provide false information to federal agents and deleted potentially incriminating evidence from his personal devices.
While the indictment does not specify, it seems to allude to Bahi’s involvement in Adams' 2021 campaign, which federal prosecutors have indicated was marred by illegal straw donations and foreign interference.
"The charges unsealed today should leave no doubt about the seriousness of any effort to interfere with a federal investigation, particularly when undertaken by a government employee," stated Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District in New York. "Our commitment to uncovering the truth and following the facts wherever they may lead is unwavering.”
Williams alleged that Bahi was behind several straw donations funneled through a Brooklyn construction company in 2020, during Adams' tenure as Brooklyn borough president and his campaign for mayor.
On December 10, five donors contributed a total of $10,000 at a fundraiser at the construction company's headquarters. The complaint alleges that contributions from four employees were reimbursed by the company owner.
When these donations came under scrutiny in the summer of 2024, the FBI executed search warrants at the homes of both the owner and the donors, all of whom denied making straw contributions.
The indictment claims Bahi encouraged the company owner and four employees to persist in lying to federal investigators, believing that the cash reimbursements would remain untraceable. During a June 14 meeting, he purportedly told the owner that Adams doubted the owner would cooperate with law enforcement.
However, in later interviews with federal agents, the five alleged straw donors reportedly changed their narratives in hopes of obtaining leniency, admitting to contributing illicit funds to the campaign.
The indictment further claims that Bahi deleted an encrypted messaging app — supposedly used to communicate with Adams and others — just prior to the FBI's search of his residence on July 24.
“[Bahi] allegedly interfered with an active investigation by ordering third parties to lie to federal agents and deleting potentially incriminating correspondence from his personal electronic devices,” remarked FBI Assistant Director James Dennehy. “These alleged actions were a deceitful attempt to conceal unlawful activity and create unnecessary obstacles for those working to uncover the truth."
Bahi could not be reached for immediate comment.
He appeared in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday afternoon alongside his attorney, Kevin Puvalowski.
Bahi's bail was set at $250,000 bond, requiring two financially responsible signatories. He was also ordered to surrender his travel documents and restrict his travels to New York's Southern District, Eastern District, and New Jersey.
At an unrelated press briefing on Tuesday, Adams praised Bahi's contributions to the city.
“I always found him to be thoughtful. I always found him to be willing to go into all the communities … and bring down the noise in the conflicts," Adams said. “His attorney can speak to his case. I know he delivered for New Yorkers."
The U.S. attorney’s office has initiated several investigations into Adams' administration and campaign, causing significant upheaval at City Hall. Under Governor Kathy Hochul's directive, many top aides have been removed from their positions due to these probes. Last month, Adams became the first sitting mayor to be indicted by federal authorities.
The indictment against Adams accused him of being involved in a bribery scheme with a Turkish official and business interests that allegedly funneled illegal donations to his 2021 campaign in return for pressuring city officials to authorize the opening of a new Turkish embassy building in midtown in 2021.
Notably, figures mentioned in Adams' indictment coincide with those involved in Bahi's case.
Campaign finance records indicate that the firm where Bahi allegedly coordinated illegal straw donations is United Elite Group, a construction company operated by Tolib Mansurov.
Mansurov, part of Brooklyn's Uzbek community, is identified in Adams' indictment, which presents further details about the alleged straw donor scheme from December 2020.
In that month, two campaign employees allegedly encouraged a business owner resembling Mansurov to contribute $10,000 to gain favor with Adams. The indictment, which does not identify the construction executive or his firm, alleges that Mansurov initially attempted to write a $10,000 check from his business and then from his personal account but was advised by the staffers that such a large contribution exceeded campaign finance limits.
The staffers suggested that Mansurov could circumvent the limits by channeling his funds through several employees — an illegal tactic that he then pursued.
After Adams took office, the complaint states that Mansurov contacted Adams regarding assistance with a construction project stalled by outstanding issues with the Department of Buildings.
“I always supported you,” Mansurov purportedly texted the mayor in February 2023, noting that City Hall had attempted to lift a stop-work order but that the problem had “reached a certain limit that only you can lift.”
Adams assured him he would investigate the matter, which seemed to progress within about ten days.
“Mayor, brother I want to thank you for your help … you have my continued support,” Mansurov reportedly wrote.
Adams, along with legal counsel Alex Spiro, contends that any communication with city agencies on behalf of donors was merely part of standard constituent services carried out by nearly all elected officials in the city.
On the same day as Tuesday's indictment, an official in Adams’ administration pleaded guilty to expediting fire safety inspections in exchange for kickbacks.
Brian Cordasco admitted in court to prioritizing inspections for projects that paid bribes totaling nearly $200,000, a necessary prerequisite for opening new buildings.
It appears, however, that Cordasco’s actions are not connected to the fire safety inspection issues that led a Turkish official to approach Adams in the fall of 2021.
Timmy Facciola and Jeff Coltin contributed to this report.
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
Mohamed Bahi, who stepped down from his position as a senior liaison in the mayor's community affairs unit on Monday night, allegedly instructed others to provide false information to federal agents and deleted potentially incriminating evidence from his personal devices.
While the indictment does not specify, it seems to allude to Bahi’s involvement in Adams' 2021 campaign, which federal prosecutors have indicated was marred by illegal straw donations and foreign interference.
"The charges unsealed today should leave no doubt about the seriousness of any effort to interfere with a federal investigation, particularly when undertaken by a government employee," stated Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District in New York. "Our commitment to uncovering the truth and following the facts wherever they may lead is unwavering.”
Williams alleged that Bahi was behind several straw donations funneled through a Brooklyn construction company in 2020, during Adams' tenure as Brooklyn borough president and his campaign for mayor.
On December 10, five donors contributed a total of $10,000 at a fundraiser at the construction company's headquarters. The complaint alleges that contributions from four employees were reimbursed by the company owner.
When these donations came under scrutiny in the summer of 2024, the FBI executed search warrants at the homes of both the owner and the donors, all of whom denied making straw contributions.
The indictment claims Bahi encouraged the company owner and four employees to persist in lying to federal investigators, believing that the cash reimbursements would remain untraceable. During a June 14 meeting, he purportedly told the owner that Adams doubted the owner would cooperate with law enforcement.
However, in later interviews with federal agents, the five alleged straw donors reportedly changed their narratives in hopes of obtaining leniency, admitting to contributing illicit funds to the campaign.
The indictment further claims that Bahi deleted an encrypted messaging app — supposedly used to communicate with Adams and others — just prior to the FBI's search of his residence on July 24.
“[Bahi] allegedly interfered with an active investigation by ordering third parties to lie to federal agents and deleting potentially incriminating correspondence from his personal electronic devices,” remarked FBI Assistant Director James Dennehy. “These alleged actions were a deceitful attempt to conceal unlawful activity and create unnecessary obstacles for those working to uncover the truth."
Bahi could not be reached for immediate comment.
He appeared in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday afternoon alongside his attorney, Kevin Puvalowski.
Bahi's bail was set at $250,000 bond, requiring two financially responsible signatories. He was also ordered to surrender his travel documents and restrict his travels to New York's Southern District, Eastern District, and New Jersey.
At an unrelated press briefing on Tuesday, Adams praised Bahi's contributions to the city.
“I always found him to be thoughtful. I always found him to be willing to go into all the communities … and bring down the noise in the conflicts," Adams said. “His attorney can speak to his case. I know he delivered for New Yorkers."
The U.S. attorney’s office has initiated several investigations into Adams' administration and campaign, causing significant upheaval at City Hall. Under Governor Kathy Hochul's directive, many top aides have been removed from their positions due to these probes. Last month, Adams became the first sitting mayor to be indicted by federal authorities.
The indictment against Adams accused him of being involved in a bribery scheme with a Turkish official and business interests that allegedly funneled illegal donations to his 2021 campaign in return for pressuring city officials to authorize the opening of a new Turkish embassy building in midtown in 2021.
Notably, figures mentioned in Adams' indictment coincide with those involved in Bahi's case.
Campaign finance records indicate that the firm where Bahi allegedly coordinated illegal straw donations is United Elite Group, a construction company operated by Tolib Mansurov.
Mansurov, part of Brooklyn's Uzbek community, is identified in Adams' indictment, which presents further details about the alleged straw donor scheme from December 2020.
In that month, two campaign employees allegedly encouraged a business owner resembling Mansurov to contribute $10,000 to gain favor with Adams. The indictment, which does not identify the construction executive or his firm, alleges that Mansurov initially attempted to write a $10,000 check from his business and then from his personal account but was advised by the staffers that such a large contribution exceeded campaign finance limits.
The staffers suggested that Mansurov could circumvent the limits by channeling his funds through several employees — an illegal tactic that he then pursued.
After Adams took office, the complaint states that Mansurov contacted Adams regarding assistance with a construction project stalled by outstanding issues with the Department of Buildings.
“I always supported you,” Mansurov purportedly texted the mayor in February 2023, noting that City Hall had attempted to lift a stop-work order but that the problem had “reached a certain limit that only you can lift.”
Adams assured him he would investigate the matter, which seemed to progress within about ten days.
“Mayor, brother I want to thank you for your help … you have my continued support,” Mansurov reportedly wrote.
Adams, along with legal counsel Alex Spiro, contends that any communication with city agencies on behalf of donors was merely part of standard constituent services carried out by nearly all elected officials in the city.
On the same day as Tuesday's indictment, an official in Adams’ administration pleaded guilty to expediting fire safety inspections in exchange for kickbacks.
Brian Cordasco admitted in court to prioritizing inspections for projects that paid bribes totaling nearly $200,000, a necessary prerequisite for opening new buildings.
It appears, however, that Cordasco’s actions are not connected to the fire safety inspection issues that led a Turkish official to approach Adams in the fall of 2021.
Timmy Facciola and Jeff Coltin contributed to this report.
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
