Anthony Herbert, 61, a former citywide liaison for New York City Mayor Eric Adams, has been arrested on federal corruption and fraud charges. Federal prosecutors allege Herbert orchestrated multiple schemes during his City Hall tenure from 2022 to 2025, pocketing roughly $16,000 in bribes to influence city security contracts and solicit kickbacks from a funeral home.
Prior to his City Hall employment, Herbert is accused of submitting a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan application for a non-existent bakery business, illegally obtaining over $20,000.
Herbert faces six federal charges: two counts of bribery, wire fraud, extortion, honest service wire fraud, and federal program fraud.
Investigators allege two “pay-to-play” operations while he was in office. The first involved accepting bribes from a security firm seeking contracts with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) for security services. The second scheme allegedly involved pressuring officials to approve payments to a funeral home director under a low-income burial assistance program in exchange for kickbacks.
Herbert was fired in September 2025 after controversial social media posts regarding conservative activist Charlie Kirk. He maintains his innocence and has pleaded not guilty. Herbert is due back in court on January 30th.
