Harlem woman accused by Bragg in Adams straw donation scheme pleads guilty

A Harlem woman accused of recruiting elderly residents of her apartment complex to make illegal donations to Mayor Eric Adams’ 2021 campaign has pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, according to a copy of a signed plea agreement obtained by Gothamist.

Millicent Reddick is expected to face no prison time if she complies with the court’s terms, the agreement states.

Last year, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Redick and five others with allegedly conspiring to collect donations from people who would later receive refunds, also known as “straw donations.” The goal, prosecutors said, was to collect small enough donations to qualify for New York’s public-at-will program, which gives candidates $8 in taxpayer funds for every dollar they raise from city residents below a certain threshold. threshold

Redick pleaded guilty while Adams faces multiple counts federal indictment alleging that he took bribes and illegal contributions during his 2021 mayoral campaign. It also follows several guilty pleas in the Bragg case, including retired NYPD Inspector Duane Montgomery and three businessmen accused in the scheme. Prosecutors charges dismissed against another alleged co-conspirator, the Daily News reported.

A spokesman for the Manhattan district attorney’s office declined to comment on the plea deal, and Redick’s attorney did not immediately return a phone call Tuesday.

In the 32-page prosecutionprosecutors accused Redick of persuading elderly residents of Esplanade Gardens to donate to Adams’ campaign. Then, prosecutors said, she bought more than $2,000 in wire transfers to reimburse donors she paid with checks from a businessman involved in the scheme.

Reddick admitted in the plea agreement that between August and November 2021, she purchased money orders from various post offices with the understanding that the money orders would be sent to the Adams campaign under the names of people who did not actually donate their own money. She also admitted to asking these fake donors to fill out campaign contribution forms and then reimbursing them for the donations.

As part of the plea, Redick agreed not to hold any political fundraisers or solicit any campaign contributions for a year. In case of non-fulfillment of the terms of the agreement, she faces up to 15 days of arrest.