NEW YORK — A former police officer who prosecutors say was the ringleader of a campaign donation scheme to help New York City Mayor Eric Adams during his winning 2021 run was convicted Tuesday, authorities said.
Dwyane Montgomery was ordered to perform 200 hours of community service and was banned from organizing political fundraisers or soliciting contributions on behalf of any campaign for a year during his sentencing, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office confirmed in an email.
The 64-year-old former NYPD deputy inspector agreed to the sentence when he pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge in February. Montgomery was one of six people charged with conspiracy, attempted grand larceny and making false statements in connection with the campaign donation plot.
The indictment, announced by Bragg’s office last July, did not involve Adams but instead laid out a straw-donor conspiracy by people hoping to maximize their donations in exchange for political favors at City Hall.
The Associated Press left email messages seeking comment late Tuesday with Dwayne Montgomery’s attorney and spokespeople for Adams.
Prosecutors say Montgomery organized more than two dozen straw donations between 2020 and 2021 by encouraging friends and family members to take advantage of the city’s generous matching fund system, which offers an 8-to-1 match for the first $250 donated by a city resident is donated. . Montgomery also helped organize fundraisers for Adams.
Adams, a former NYPD captain, has admitted he knew Montgomery from their time on the force but denied his campaign had any knowledge of the scheme.
The Democratic mayor and his inner circle have faced increased scrutiny from law enforcement in recent months.
Adams had his cellphones and iPad seized by federal agents in November as part of a separate investigation that focused at least in part on whether his campaign conspired with the Turkish government to receive illegal campaign contributions from foreign sources.
And at least three of the mayor’s aides, including his top campaign fundraiser, have also had their homes raided by federal agents.
Adams has consistently dismissed questions about the investigations, while emphasizing that he has not been officially accused of wrongdoing.