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A former high-ranking city official, dismissed for making controversial comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination being “karma,” has been charged with orchestrating two separate bribery schemes that earned him a total of $16,000, federal authorities revealed on Tuesday.
Tony Herbert, who was once the public housing liaison under former Mayor Eric Adams, is alleged to have accepted $11,000 from a security company executive. In return, he reportedly exerted pressure on City Hall officials to channel NYCHA contracts towards this executive’s firm, according to documents unveiled in Manhattan federal court.
In another alleged scheme, Herbert is accused of receiving a $5,000 kickback from a funeral director. This came after he facilitated the approval of $24,000 in public funds for burial services intended for low-income individuals, as stated in the indictment.
The long-time community activist also faces accusations of fraudulently obtaining a $20,000 loan from the federal Paycheck Protection Program, intended to support businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, by fabricating a cake business, prosecutors allege.
Herbert, now 61, was part of the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit during his tenure with the Adams administration, from February 2022 until his termination in September 2025, following his controversial remarks about Kirk’s demise.
He was expected to make his first appearance in Manhattan federal court for an arraignment Tuesday afternoon on six counts of bribery and loan fraud.
The bombshell indictment comes just months after Adams former aide and close confidante Ingrid Lewis-Martin was hit with a fresh batch of bribery charges in August.
Adams himself was indicted on allegations of scooping up more than $120,000 in travel perk bribes from Turkish nationals to fast-track the opening of the Turkish Consulate building in Manhattan.
But the case was abruptly scrapped by the Justice Department at the behest of President Trump’s administration.