A superseding indictment has unveiled a troubling case of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bribery, and money laundering involving employees of a non-profit organization in Brooklyn. Among those charged are Gary DSilva, Jonathan Velazquez, Luis A. Camarena, and Pradeep Nigam, whose actions are alleged to have swindled the non-profit out of millions intended for providing essential services to homeless shelters, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York.
In the allegations put forth, DSilva and Velazquez, employees in the non-profit's Management Information Systems department, apparently took kickbacks from Nigam, giving his business contracts that siphoned off significant funds. "As alleged, DSilva, Velazsquez, and Nigam set up a secret side deal with Nigam and awarded Nigam business contracts worth millions of dollars that provided essential information-technology services to homeless shelters in return for illegal kickbacks," United States Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr. explained, .
A previous indictment unsealed in November 2024 also implicated DSilva and Velazquez in a related kickback scheme with Camarena, who operated a vendor that secured about $1.6 million in contracts from the non-profit for installing security cameras at their facilities. The new charges, however, involve a separate set of covert transactions with Vendor 2, the company owned by Nigam, which was paid nearly $2 million for IT services. Over $700,000 in kickbacks were funneled to DSilva and Velazquez, per the indictment details.
DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber responded to the indictment, condemning the alleged exploitation of the non-profit's funds. "These defendants, employees of a City-funded nonprofit and principals of the nonprofit's subcontractors, engaged in kickback schemes in return for millions of dollars in contracts, as charged," Strauber said, illustrating the gravity of the misuse of funds designated for social service programs. The FBI has also asserted its commitment to addressing such schemes, especially when they affect services for vulnerable populations. "The FBI remains committed to investigating any instance of quid pro quo, especially when it impacts critical services to our city’s vulnerable communities," FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia detailed, as detailed by the U.S. Attorney's Office's release.
Pradeep Nigam surrendered to authorities and was arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Marcia M. Henry, while DSilva, Velazquez, and Camarena will see their arraignment at a date yet to be determined. It is important to note that all allegations in the superseding indictment remain just that, allegations, until proven in a court of law, and all defendants hold the presumption of innocence. The case is overseen by Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Zuckerwise and Turner Buford, alongside paralegal specialist Kavya Kannan.
