A former aid to New York Mayor Bill de Blasio is under arrest on charges of defrauding financial institutions of $10 million, reports Documented.
The FBI arrested Tommy Lin Thursday morning. He will face charges along with Zhong Shi Gao and Fei Jiang who were arrested in November. Lin worked for de Blasio as his director from 2014 to about 2019 and currently serves as the Queens Community Coordinator at the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.
The department announced it would conduct an internal review of Lin who has been placed on leave.
According to Politico, Lin allegedly provided information to the two other defendants and conducted background checks to make sure they weren’t under investigation. Lin also is accused of being involved with a $20,000 bribe of an immigration officer to arrest a former associate who had become disgruntled.
Several people who spoke to Documented expressed shock at the news.
“For me, he is a great guy. He has always been supportive personally and professionally,” said Kenneth Chiu who is running for state assembly.
Prosecutors outlined their case in court documents saying the trio transferred money from accounts and then filed claims saying the transfers were unauthorized. The three allegedly received $10 million in refunds they weren’t owed.
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