NEW YORK (AP) - Prosecutors say the key to get into a Brooklyn affordable housing complex was bribery - about $875,000 of it.
Two Luna Park Housing Corp. board members and an office manager pleaded not guilty Tuesday to conspiracy and other charges.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez told reporters the scam worked like this: “Corrupt insiders got cash bribes, applicants got the apartment they wanted without having to wait, and honest families were left out in the cold.”
People were interested in these podcasts
Prosecutors say the three women took payoffs and forged documents to give apartment-seekers priority for 18 units at the publicly subsidized development in Coney Island. Apartments sell at below-market rates. Waits can be years long.
Prosecutors say individual bribes ranged from $10,000 to $120,000, and proceeds went to buy Florida condos, fur coats and more.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.