Share and Follow
Federal prosecutors in New York have unveiled charges against leaders of a nonprofit organization dedicated to homeless shelters, accusing them of embezzling $1.3 million from the taxpayer-funded entity. The indictment, which was made public on Tuesday, also alleges that these leaders directed lucrative contracts to preferred vendors in return for bribes and kickbacks.
In connection with the investigation, authorities arrested four individuals on Tuesday. However, the sisters associated with the case were not among those apprehended.
The indictment outlines a series of corrupt activities within BHRAGS Home Care Corp., a nonprofit primarily focused on home health care that has recently branched out to manage homeless shelters. This expansion was part of a response to the surge of asylum seekers under the administration of former New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
According to prosecutors, Roberto Samedy, the nonprofit’s executive director, and Jean Ronald Tirelus, the former board chairman, both aged 50, misappropriated funds from the organization. This included the theft of $800,000 intended for “economic growth and affordable housing” projects in struggling neighborhoods of Brooklyn.
The indictment further alleges that Samedy and Tirelus received over $200,000 in kickbacks for awarding contracts worth millions to enterprises operated by Edouardo St. Fort and Miguel Jorge.
Tirelus, Samedy and Jorge all pleaded not guilty through their attorneys in court on Tuesday.
St. Fort, a former New York City police sergeant, was arrested in Massachusetts on Tuesday and did not appear in the courtroom. Inquiries to his attorney were not returned.
The indictment did not outline any wrongdoing by others. All four of the men arrested Tuesday were mentioned in a search warrant, signed March 19, seeking communications between BHRAGS, the Louis sisters and Edu Hermelyn,
Edu Hermelyn is the husband of state Assembly member Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, who chairs the Brooklyn Democratic Party.
Messages left for Farah Louis, Debbie Louis and Edu Hermelyn were not returned.
A spokesperson for BHRAGS issued a statement saying the nonprofit has served New Yorkers for more than 50 years “with integrity and the highest ethical standards, and we take the allegations against Mr. Samedy seriously.”
It said Samedy is on administrative leave, with his duties handed off to the company’s chief operating officer, and that the company is cooperating with law enforcement.
Tirelus’ lawyer, Todd Spodek, said he “categorically disputes the charges and looks forward to clearing his name at trial.”
Tirelus and Samedy were charged with wire fraud, embezzlement, and bribery-related offenses and face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. St. Fort and Jorge were charged with federal program bribery and related charges, and face up to 10 years each.
St. Fort, who retired as a New York City police sergeant in 2023, runs Fort NYC Security, records show. Since 2023, the city has agreed to pay more than $7 million to Fort NYC Security to provide security services at homeless shelters, often as a subcontractor for BHRAGS.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the city would “definitely be looking into” existing contracts that the city has with BHRAGS.
The existence of a search warrant naming Farah and Debbie Louis doesn’t necessarily indicate that prosecutors plan to bring criminal charges against them, only that investigators persuaded a magistrate judge to allow them to dig deeper and seize evidence.
Nevertheless, the governor’s office said Debbie Louis has been placed on leave, and a spokesperson for the City Council said the legislative body “takes any potential misconduct extremely seriously.”
“New Yorkers deserve confidence in their government,” the spokesperson said. “It is essential that the federal investigation proceed fairly and expeditiously to bring this matter to a resolution.”