Earlier today, an indictment was unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn, charging Julio Medina, Christopher Dantzler, and Weihong Hu with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, honest-services wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to violate the Travel Act, and using a facility of interstate commerce in aid of commercial bribery. The arrests took place this morning with Dantzler apprehended on Long Island, Hu in Manhattan, and Medina in the Bronx. They are scheduled for arraignment this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge James R. Cho.
John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Jocelyn E. Strauber, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (DOI); and James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arrests and charges.
“The defendants’ brazen and illegal kickback scheme stole money from the City of New York that was intended to provide emergency housing and support services during the pandemic,” stated United States Attorney Durham. “Shamefully, the defendants saw the pandemic as an opportunity to line their pockets with stacks of cash... My Office will relentlessly pursue those who steal public funds.”
DOI Commissioner Strauber added: “As charged, these defendants... engaged in and concealed a bribery and kickback scheme... I thank the Mayor’s Office of Risk Management and Compliance for the referral to DOI that prompted this investigation."
“These three defendants allegedly pocketed millions of dollars from public funds allocated for emergency housing during the pandemic,” stated FBI Assistant Director Dennehy.
The indictment alleges that Medina founded a non-profit organization providing reentry services to formerly incarcerated individuals. In June 2020, it contracted with New York City's Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ) to administer an emergency transitional housing program aimed at combating COVID-19 spread in city jails. The organization received approximately $122 million from MOCJ between June 2020 and December 2023.
Dantzler's company claimed to provide security services but was not licensed nor did it deliver such services. Hu operated hotels under this program while being involved with a catering company serving reentry hotels' residents.
Medina allegedly accepted bribes from Dantzler and Hu in exchange for directing business their way under this program. This included buying Medina a townhouse worth about $1.3 million among other luxury items.
In total, they provided Medina with at least $2.5 million worth in U.S. currency or benefits while steering around $51 million towards their businesses through public funds meant for emergency housing programs.
Charges remain allegations until proven otherwise; all defendants are presumed innocent until then.
Assistant United States Attorneys Meredith A. Arfa, Eric Silverberg, Sean M. Sherman are handling prosecution efforts alongside Paralegal Specialists Kavya Kannan & Rebecca Roth.
The Defendants:
- JULIO MEDINA
Age: 64
Clifton Park
- CHRISTOPHER DANTZLER
Age: 49
Baldwin
- WEIHONG HU
Age: 59
Manhattan
E.D.N.Y Docket No.: 25-CR-54 (RPK)
