Bribery charges have been brought against 70 superintendents, both former and current, of New York City Housing Authority for corruption and allegedly receiving millions of dollars in exchange for work contracts.

Of those 70 accused, 66 superintendents were apprehended the morning of Feb. 13 in various locations, spanning from New York City to North Carolina. They were arraigned in federal court and later released on a $50,000 bond with travel constraints.

According to a CBS News report, the bribes amounted to more than $2 million and were said to have occurred at nearly one-third of all NYCHA buildings across the five boroughs. 

In return for the bribes, supers would award these contractors with over $13 million worth of work on buildings managed by NYCHA.

Throughout the 476 pages of criminal complaints, primarily lower-level employees are targeted.

Systemic issues within NYCHA’s management go back to September 2021 when the Department of Investigation informed NYCHA Chair Greg Russ that their investigation findings had been forwarded to law enforcement for potential criminal prosecution. 

Despite this notification, both Russ and NYCHA General Manager Vito Mustaciuolo dismissed the suggestion.

In light of the recent arrests, NYCHA responded to inquiries from The City regarding their failure to implement suggested reforms in 2021.

A spokesperson for NYCHA told The City, “NYCHA did not implement the recommendation to remove micro-purchases as a property management tool in an attempt to continue prioritizing the daily operational needs of residents and the building portfolio.” These micro-purchases are used as an avenue by public housing authorities to secure the fastest possible services for their residents, such as in emergencies. 

NYCHA is the largest public housing authority in the United States. Repairs or construction work requiring outside contractors must undergo a bidding process. 

However, for contracts valued under $10,000, NYCHA staff at developments could hire contractors without multiple bids, known as a “no-bid” process, which was faster and required only approval from designated staff at the development.

According to The City, the DOI proposed to implement “fixed price lists,” which would outline typical repair costs to prevent overbilling for minor jobs that meet the $10,000 threshold. NYCHA declined to adopt the suggestion back in 2021.