Data of 2004–2023 convictions of public officials shows huge regional differences in corruption. DC, New Orleans, Virgin Islands & Montana topped the list; New Hampshire & Utah ranked lowest. Larger areas, federal aid & oversight gaps drive most corruption.

#Corruption

www.cato.org/blog/where-p...

Who?

LA Councilmember Curren Price ordered to stand trial on corruption charges The veteran South L.A. politician faces up to 11 years behind bars if convicted.

LA City Councilmember Curren Price Jr. faces 12 felony corruption charges after sufficient evidence was found he voted on projects benefiting his wife. With embezzlement, conflicts & perjury charges if found guilty he faces up to 11 years in prison.

https://tinyurl.com/34kvr5d4

#LA #Corruption

Ingrid Lewis-Martin, Former Adams Aide, Took Diamond Earrings as Bribe, Prosecutors Say Prosecutors added new details to their case against Ingrid Lewis-Martin, who is accused of using her position in New York’s City Hall to help associates in exchange for bribes.

Prosecutors say former NYC mayoral aide Ingrid Lewis-Martin took diamond earrings and other bribes in exchange for using her City Hall position to benefit associates, adding new details to an ongoing corruption case.

#Corruption #Bribery

I-TEAM: Indictment outlines alleged CATS contract scheme tied to Baton Rouge councilman A Baton Rouge grand jury has returned new indictments in an ongoing corruption investigation involving city and Capital Area Transit System contracts.

Baton Rouge Metro Councilman Cleve Dunn Jr. indicted on 9 felony counts for steering $50K CATS contract to firm he secretly controlled & pocketing most of the money: widening state & federal corruption investigation into city’s transit system.

#Corruption #Transit

Preliminary hearing in LA city councilman's corruption case gets underway Price's attorney has suggested the longtime local politician didn't know he had conflicts of interest that needed to be disclosed.

LA corruption continues: Alexander Soofer allegedly stole $10M from homeless aid to fund luxury homes and jets. Councilman C. Price faces ethics and embezzlement charges for steering $800K to his wife’s firm, joining a long line of local officials in trouble.

https://tinyurl.com/5498wr7s

Community outraged after Hackensack Board of Education says its facing $17 million budget deficit The missing money could force the district to make major cuts.

Hackensack, N.J. school officials revealed a $17 million budget shortfall after years of bookkeeping failures and illegal spending practices. The deficit may trigger layoffs and a tax hike.

https://tinyurl.com/yc8demn5

Defiant Mayor Adams refused to condemn embattled cronies, address escalating corruption allegations — with the exception of Winnie Greco Mayor Eric Adams on Friday refused to condemn his embattled cronies, including freshly indicted longtime adviser Ingrid Lewis-Martin.

Ex-NYC Mayor Eric Adams defended indicted ex-aide Ingrid Lewis-Martin amid bribery charges. Critics slammed his loyalty to embattled aides who volunteered for his campaign, while Adams cited due process and refused to condemn them.

https://tinyurl.com/bdpdpk37

Charity director stole $23M in homeless funds to support luxurious lifestyle, DOJ alleges The executive director of Abundant Blessings in South LA is accused of fraudulently obtaining the public funds to support his lavish lifestyle.

Alexander Soofer of Westwood LA faces federal and state charges for stealing $23M in homeless funds for luxury goods and travel. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in federal and 17 years in state prison.

https://tinyurl.com/yy53626v

State audit finds $5 million in wasted taxpayer dollars across California agencies A California audit flagged spending mistakes and misuse across multiple agencies, including millions in service fees for unused cell phones. Critics blame weak oversight as the state braces for a potential $18B budget shortfall.

CA audit found over $5M wasted or unreported by state agencies. Issues included overpayments, unreported benefits & vehicle misuse. Lawmakers called for stronger oversight and accountability.

https://tinyurl.com/yp2b4m76

Private equity founder Jay Lucas, 71, was charged with securities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering for allegedly raising over $50 million from investors and diverting the funds to personal expenses, his wife’s business, and Ponzi-like payments.

David Novarro has the latest on the alleged corruption scheme.https://abc7ny.com/post/former-adams-official-charged-bribery-2-separate-pay-play-schemes/18396... Eric Adams' ally, Tony Herbert, charged with birbery in alleged corruption scheme

Former NYC mayoral aide Tony Herbert was charged with bribery, wire fraud, and extortion for allegedly taking $11K from a security company and $5K from a funeral home in pay-to-play schemes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3peLGwh3SXQ

Nick Shirley said after his first video on Minnesota fraud, he found more reports of fraud across other states. California Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley discus... CALIFORNIA FRAUD? Nick Shirley talks investigations at Minnesota hearing

Video exposed Minnesota daycare fraud; similar issues now seen in CA, OH, ME. Confirmed losses: $32.6B unemployment fraud, 1.2M fake college applications, $24B in homelessness programs, $18B on an unfinished train.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzmbUGij6Zw

LA Councilman Curren Price's preliminary hearing gets underway as he faces corruption charges A preliminary hearing was expected to continue in a downtown courtroom that will decide if there is sufficient evidence to require L.A. City Councilman Curren Price to stand trial in an alleged public corruption case.

L.A. Councilman Curren Price faces trial over embezzling $33.8K in city funds for his wife’s benefits & approving $829K in contracts benefiting her firm. He could face 11+ years in prison.

https://tinyurl.com/tnv8fmu3

SF’s New Inspector General, Fresh Off Mohammed Nuru Case, Opens Tip Line So You Can Report City Hall Corruption If you think there’s corruption at SF City Hall, you can now report it yourself and maybe start an investigation, thanks to SF’s first-ever Inspector General Alex Shepard who just started the new watchdog job this month.

San Francisco appoints first Inspector General, former federal prosecutor Alex Shepard, to lead voter-created watchdog office to investigate City Hall fraud, waste & abuse with a new public tip line.

#SanFrancisco #AntiCorruption

https://tinyurl.com/48ctj54p

Ohio has suffered from corruption for decades, with failed policies & taxpayer giveaways to wealthy donors, including billion-dollar stadium subsidies. Recent elections show Democrats winning local races, signaling Ohioans are pushing back hoping for better governance.

#Ohio

tinyurl.com/585zp9cc

NYC continues to reel from Eric Adams’s scandal-plagued tenure: aides face bribery & contract-fraud charges, no-bid contracts worth 100s of millions are under review, & NYPD corruption claims persist. City Council hearings & prosecutions aim to uncover everything.

#NYC

nymag.com/intelligence...

Two more people charged in Baton Rouge bus system corruption investigation A former top administrator and contractor were already facing criminal charges.

"TJ" Jackson Jr. & Erica Jackson have been charged in a Baton Rouge bus system corruption probe, joining charges against former COO Pearlina Thomas & contractor "Jay" Colar: theft of $25,000 + conspiracy; Thomas also faces malfeasance & misuse of public funds.

#BatonRouge

tinyurl.com/2ykcnu9r

Nevada has launched a Public Corruption Task Force within its Criminal Division to investigate and prosecute bribery, election crimes & other government misconduct. The unit will hold officials accountable and protect Nevadans from corruption.

#Nevada #AntiCorruption

www.kolotv.com/2026/01/21/n...

LA Council member Curren Price faces preliminary hearing on embezzlement, conflict of interest & perjury charges for collecting city health benefits for a woman he wasn’t married to & voting on projects that benefited her. Conviction could mean up to 11 years in prison.

#LA

tinyurl.com/4weurdc7

Human trafficking depends on corruption at every step In 2011, a trafficker in Chile was convicted for recruiting economically vulnerable Peruvian citizens and arranging for them to be brought into the country – destined to become victims of sexual explo...

UNODC finds corruption fuels human trafficking at every stage. Bribes, complicit officials & weak oversight let victims be moved and exploited. Stronger laws, safe reporting, & tools like Moldova’s Passenger Info Unit aim to break the cycle.

news.un.org/en/story/202...

YouTube video by KHON2 News State launches investigation involving alleged payment to ‘influential state legislator’

Hawaii statehouse scandal resurfaces.

After hundreds signed petition Gov. Green & AG announced state investigation into $35K cash payment to an unnamed lawmaker delivered in brown paper bag 4 years ago. Lawmakers welcome probe.

#Hawaii #Bribery #Corruption

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VMq...

San Leandro city council member charged in FBI corruption case linked to former Oakland mayor Federal prosecutors charged San Leandro City Councilmember Bryan Azevedo Tuesday over allegations he was wrapped up in a bribery and kickback scheme involving an Oakland-based housing developer.

San Leandro City Council member Brian Azevedo was charged with felony honest services/wire fraud, making false statements to investigators, accepting a $2,000 cash bribe tied to a housing developer. He faces up to 25 years in prison, $500,000 in fines.

#Corruption

abc7news.com/post/bryan-a...

YouTube video by Eyewitness News ABC7NY Eric Adams' ally, Tony Herbert, charged with birbery in alleged corruption scheme

Former city official Tony Herbert was arrested accused of embezzling $16,000 from the IBES program in NYC during 2022–2025. Herbert had been earlier fired for insensitive remarks.

#NYC #Corruption #Accountability #Transparency #MisuseOfFunds

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3peL...

Nonprofit leader pleads guilty in North Charleston's federal corruption probe Michelle Stent-Hilton of DEEP SC pleaded guilty for her role in giving funds from a North Charleston grant program to then-Councilman Jerome Heyward.

Michelle Stent-Hilton pleaded guilty in Charleston’s federal corruption probe, admitting she gave ex-Councilman Heyward 20% of her nonprofit’s city grant funds. The case exposed bribery, kickbacks, and misuse of city funds. She could face 20 years.

#Bribery

www.postandcourier.com/charleston_s...

Tony Herbert, former aide to NYC Mayor Eric Adams, arrested on bribery and fraud charges Tony Herbert, a former aide in Eric Adams' administration, was arrested Tuesday morning, accused of accepting $16,000 in bribes and kickbacks.

Former NYC Mayor Adams aide Tony Herbert was arrested for bribery & fraud, allegedly taking $16K in kickbacks, steering city contracts & burial funds, & filed a fake loan. He was fired last Sept . U.S. Att: "Blatant pay-to-play schemes to enrich himself."

#Bribery

www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news...

2 LA County developers charged in fraud cases involving funds earmarked for homeless housing Two L.A. County real estate developers who prosecutors say defrauded lenders are facing unrelated federal criminal cases for allegedly taking advantage of funds allocated to assist the homeless.

Two LA developers allegedly exploited homeless housing funds. Former affordable-housing CFO faked finances to secure $25.9M in Homekey money, some spent on luxury goods. Another real estate investor faces bank fraud charges. Prosecutors say it’s just the beginning.

#Fraud

abc7.com/post/2-la-co...

Eric Adams faces scrutiny over NYC Token 'rug pull' scam | The Jerusalem Post NYC Token was launched to "address antisemitism and anti-Americanism," Adams claimed, in an apparent swipe at his mayoral successor, Zohran Mamdani.

Former NYC mayor Eric Adams is facing scrutiny after his NYC Token memecoin briefly soared, then crashed following an apparent rug pull. An account linked to Adams pulled millions in crypto shortly after launch. The market cap collapsed soon after.

#CryptoScam #NYC

www.jpost.com/crypto-curre...

Santa Clara County Office of Education say probes into former superintendent Mary Ann Dewan found contract favoritism and improper use of public funds. The board fired her in Oct. 2024 and is now advancing governance reforms for transparency & oversight.

sanjosespotlight.com/santa-clara-...

Transparency International researches corruption worldwide using independent, comparative data. Main tools are The Corruption Perceptions Index (expert & business views on public-sector corruption) & Global Corruption Barometer (citizens' experiences & attitudes).

www.transparency.org/en/research