Official announcements from New York State government or legislative records

Federal Prosecutors Drop Bribery and Fraud Charges Against Former NY Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin After Key Witness Gerald Migdol's Death

Jan 17, 2025, 11:28 PM

Federal prosecutors in New York have dropped bribery and fraud charges against Brian Benjamin, the former lieutenant governor of New York. The decision to drop the case was made following the death of a key witness, real estate developer Gerald Migdol, who had been cooperating with the government. Migdol's death in February occurred before the case could proceed to trial, leading prosecutors to conclude that they could no longer prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. Benjamin, who was appointed lieutenant governor by Governor Kathy Hochul in 2021, resigned from his position after his arrest in April 2022. The charges against Benjamin stemmed from allegations that he funneled a $50,000 state grant to a Harlem nonprofit organization controlled by Migdol in exchange for campaign contributions.