Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has announced the indictment of 18 individuals, many of whom are city employees, for their involvement in manufacturing ghost guns, defrauding the pandemic unemployment assistance program, and committing burglary. This operation, which started with the investigation of ghost guns, led to the discovery of extensive fraud and criminal activities orchestrated by city employees who abused their positions for personal gain.
The investigation began in 2002 with the discovery of a ghost gun factory in Cliffie Thompson’s East Village apartment. Thompson was indicted in January 2023, and the ongoing investigation uncovered two additional ghost gun allegations. One of these allegations led to the investigation of 56-year-old Craig Freeman and an unnamed co-conspirator who worked at the Barbara Kleiman Shelter in Brooklyn for the Department of Homeless Services. Both individuals are charged with conspiracy for purchasing ghost gun parts and manufacturing weapons.
Further investigations revealed the involvement of 25-year-old Adrienne Manigault and another co-conspirator in purchasing 3D printing machines, materials, and ghost gun parts. They are also charged with conspiracy and face allegations of tampering with physical evidence. The evidence uncovered in this investigation also led to the discovery of fraudulent activities related to the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program. Charde Baker, a former employee of the Department of Homeless Services who later became a New York Police Department employee, is accused of leading the PUA fraud scheme along with the unnamed co-conspirator and several other DHS employees.
The defendants in the PUA fraud scheme are charged with defrauding the program, grand larceny, and other crimes. They allegedly used personal information stolen from unsuspecting individuals, including homeless people, to submit fraudulent PUA claims. The claims were approved, and the defendants received bank cards with the funds. The scheme involved intercepting the mail and distributing the cards among the defendants.
The defendants allegedly filed 170 false applications, resulting in $1.2 million in payouts. The money obtained through the fraud was used to support luxurious lifestyles and fund trips to Mexico and Tanzania. Some of the defendants in the PUA fraud scheme held positions in various government agencies, such as the NYPD, New York City Housing Authority, MTA, and USPS.
In a separate indictment, Sameera Robers Baker and other defendants are charged with burglary for allegedly breaking into the apartment of one of the co-conspirators. Documents suggest that Baker orchestrated the burglary in order to retrieve thousands of dollars from the PUA fraud proceeds.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg emphasized the connection between violent crimes and white-collar fraud, stating that his office will continue to dismantle these interconnected schemes. The investigation and subsequent indictments highlight the need for stronger measures to combat ghost gun manufacturing, fraud, and corruption within city agencies.
It is crucial to address these issues and hold those responsible accountable for their actions. The public’s trust in government institutions must be restored, and steps should be taken to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
