"These defendants misappropriated public funds through a brazen kickback scheme," said Breon Peace, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. "When corrupt employees siphon public funds to line their own pockets, the neediest New Yorkers bear the brunt. My office will relentlessly pursue those who try to compromise the integrity of our community organizations."
The indictment unveiled that from 2017 to 2021, DSilva and Velazquez, both former employees of a Brooklyn nonprofit, conspired with Camarena to divert over $500,000 back as kickbacks.
Prosecutors demonstrated that the vendor, contracted to install security systems in homeless shelters, received $1.6 million from the nonprofit while over $500,000 was funneled back as illicit payments.
Payments were reportedly funneled to credit cards in the names of DSilva and Velazquez and their spouses, along with transactions made to shell companies linked to DSilva's spouse.
Collection
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