Earlier today in Brooklyn federal court, Luis Camarena pleaded guilty to participating in a kickback conspiracy involving contracts for surveillance camera installations at homeless shelters managed by a non-profit organization. According to prosecutors, Camarena received payments from the organization and shared a portion of that revenue with employees who authorized the contracts. United States District Judge Hector Gonzalez presided over the proceeding. Camarena could face up to five years in prison when sentenced.
Camarena is the last of four defendants to plead guilty in this case. Earlier this month, Gary DSilva, Jonathan Velazquez, and Pradeep Nigam also admitted guilt to similar charges. DSilva and Velazquez were employees responsible for approving vendor payments at the organization, while Nigam’s business provided information technology services. All four defendants face potential sentences of up to five years and have agreed to pay a total of $1,025,647.78 in restitution.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Jocelyn E. Strauber, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (DOI); and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge at the FBI’s New York Field Office announced the guilty pleas.
“Camerena’s schemes enriched himself, DSilva, and Velazquez at the expense of the non-profit Organization, showing glaring disrespect towards the honest work of others,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office remains committed to seeking justice for all victims of bribery and kickback schemes and prosecuting those who perpetrate such offenses.”
“These four defendants enriched themselves at the expense of a City-funded nonprofit; two employees of the organization pocketed kickbacks in exchange for steering contracts worth millions to the businesses of two co-conspirators,” stated DOI Commissioner Strauber. “With today’s guilty plea, all four defendants have now acknowledged their involvement in a scheme to steal funds intended to support City programs. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the New York Office of the FBI for their continued partnership and commitment to protect public funds.”
Court documents indicate that DSilva and Velazquez worked in management information systems at an organization based in Brooklyn providing services—including shelter administration—to people experiencing homelessness in New York City. Their responsibilities included soliciting vendors for IT projects and authorizing related payments.
The two employees entered into separate conspiracies: one involved directing contracts for surveillance camera installations toward Camarena’s business in exchange for profit-sharing; another involved a similar arrangement with Nigam’s company providing IT services. Neither employee disclosed these conflicts to their employer. In one instance cited by prosecutors, DSilva used his personal email account to send an invoice template for Nigam's business.
Nigam reportedly sent money regularly through companies owned by relatives of DSilva and Velazquez as part of these arrangements.
During these schemes’ operation periods, approximately $1.6 million was paid from the organization to Camarena’s business and about $1.9 million went from the organization to Nigam’s company.
As part of their plea agreements:
- DSilva and Velazquez will each forfeit around $714,000.
- Nigam will give up about $413,000.
- Camarena has agreed to surrender roughly $224,000.
These amounts reflect proceeds gained through illicit activity.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Turner Buford and Laura Zuckerwise from the Public Integrity Section with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Johnson Peow.
The defendants are identified as:
- Gary DSilva (also known as Pankaj Dsilva), 47, Manalapan, NJ
- Jonathan Velazquez, 55, Massapequa Park, NY
- Luis A. Camarena, 58, Bronx, NY
- Pradeep Nigam, 63, Edison, NJ
The case is filed under E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-471 (S-1) (HG).
