A former metropolis Division of Buildings supervisor pocketed greater than $75,000 in bribes by fast-tracking a whole lot of building offers across the Massive Apple, utilizing the dough to fund a lavish way of life that included journeys to Japan, prosecutors charged Monday.
Jake Udeh, 57, was indicted on bribery and conspiracy prices in Manhattan Supreme Court docket for allegedly accepting the money from three separate building firm house owners as a way to assist velocity up the approval course of for his or her jobs.
Prosectors stated Udeh, who lives in East Stroudsburg, Pa., used his place as a supervisor on the DOB to direct initiatives to his crew of plan examiners for approval in alternate for money from building corporations — even signing off on some on the roles himself.
The scheme, which ran between June 2021 to March 2025, additionally concerned three building firm house owners — Jih Yeuan Hwang, 50; Anson Tse, 40; Shiming Tam, 70, in response to the indictment.
All 4 defendants pleaded not responsible earlier than Decide April Newbauer and had been launched as the fees weren’t bail eligible.
In textual content exchanges over WhatsApp, Udeh and Hwang had been caught discussing one challenge at 22 Coffey St in Brooklyn, the place Hwang allegedly stated “5K if we will get it completed this week” in a message on April 3, 2024.
Udeh responded a month later, warning Hwang that folks had been suspicious of his “reassignments from the Borough,” in response to the indictment.
The disgraced DOB supervisor ultimately turned a blind eye and authorised the challenge in Might 2024, after Hwang had allegedly texted him that he would “have the cash” after the location was wrapped up.
“Coffey PAA will probably be filed subsequent week,” Udeh allegedly stated in a Might 28, 2024 textual content despatched to Hwang.
Prosecutors declare that Udeh accepted greater than $75,000 in bribes — together with $65,000 from Hwang to cowl over 250 expedited initiatives.
Udeh charged the development bigwigs between $500 to $1,000 per challenge and in addition demanded to have all bills lined journeys to Japan and Paraguay, in response to courtroom papers.
Tam and Tse allegedly despatched Udeh greater than $5,000 individually in bribes, prosecutors stated.
Performing Division of Investigations Commissioner Christopher Ryan referred to as for the DOB to audit the roles signed off by Udeh to make sure security.
“As alleged, Jake Udeh used his supervisory position on the Division of Buildings to assist his co-conspirators leapfrog these abiding by the principles for as little as $500 a challenge,” Manhattan District Lawyer Alvin Bragg stated in a press release.
His lawyer, Nathan Semmel, stated that the allegations in opposition to Udeh don’t match his shopper’s character.
“Mr. Udeh is a husband and father of six with an impeccable private historical past, together with intensive charitable work for youngsters in his native Nigeria,” Semmel stated. “He’s extremely educated and professionally completed. The allegations could be a stark distinction.”
Udeh faces as much as 15 years if convicted of bribery within the second diploma, a category C felony.
He resigned from his DOB gig in March 2025.
All defendants are due again in courtroom on July 9.
