Armed federal investigators raided the home of two sisters â one a New York City Councilwoman and the other an aide to Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul â following allegations they took bribes linked to migrant shelter funding.
The agents, some wielding guns, arrived at the residences of Democratic City Councilwoman Farah Louis and Hochul administration Assistant Secretary of Intergovernmental Affairs Debbie Louis on March 23, four days after they were named in a warrant, Politico reported Thursday, citing the sistersâ mother. The reported raid and warrant came amid an investigation into whether the Louis sisters and Edu Hermelyn, whose wife is a state assemblywoman and chairs the Brooklyn Democratic Party, received bribes in exchange for supporting migrant shelter provider BHRAGS Home Care Inc.
Farah Louis, the longest consecutively serving member of the New York City Council, had set aside over $70,000 in city spending for BHRAGS, according to city records, Politico first reported.
Vesta Louis, the sistersâ mother, told Politico that she believes her daughters are innocent stating, âWe are a Christian family, we donât deal with monkey business.â
âWe deal with church and God and our jobs,â the mother said.
Spokespersons for Councilwoman Louis and Hochul did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundationâs requests for comment. The DCNF also left a message for the U.S. Attorneyâs Office for the Eastern District of New York.
The family matriarch also told Politico that her daughters are âscared to stay homeâ due to the probe.
âTheyâre just speechless, they canât talk. Can you imagine? Youâre sleeping in your bed, and you saw a bunch of people walking into your bedroom with guns?â she told the outlet.
Mrs. Louis sent a photo of the damaged doorframe at Councilwoman Louisâ home to Politico, adding that the agents had busted it before sunrise while the Democratic politician was sleeping. However, an anonymous source told Politico that the lawmaker had refused to open the door without first conferring with her attorney.
The Louisâ mother also told the outlet that the raid on Debbie Louisâ home happened when the Hochul aideâs four-year-old daughter was home, and that Debbie Louisâ husband had let the agents in.
The U.S. Attorneyâs Office for the Eastern District of New York on Tuesday indictedfour men in connection with the BHRAGS probe, including former BHRAGS executive director Roberto Samedy.
A spokesperson for BHRAGS told the DCNF that Samedy âis on administrative leaveâ and the organization has been âfully cooperating with law enforcement.â
âFor more than 50 years, BHRAGS has served New Yorkers in need with integrity and the highest ethical standards, and we take the allegations against Mr. Samedy seriously,â the spokesperson added. âFrances Pierre, BHRAGSâ Chief Operating and Strategy Officer, has assumed the role of Executive Director and will continue our critical work empowering marginalized individuals with compassion.â
Samedy donated $875 to Councilwoman Louisâ campaign, Politico reported.
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