Manhattan prosecutors say a former New York City Department of Buildings supervisor turned his city job into a shortcut service for construction clients, allegedly trading speedy approvals for cash and luxury trips worth more than $75,000.
Yesterday, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced the indictment of Jake Udeh, a onetime assistant chief plan examiner, accusing him of accepting payments and travel perks to fast-track approvals for hundreds of projects across all five boroughs. Prosecutors say Udeh used his authority to reassign plan reviews or sign off on jobs himself so some construction work could slide past the usual level of scrutiny.
The alleged scheme touched more than 300 projects between 2021 and 2025, with payments and travel benefits totaling over $75,000, according to a press release from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. In the announcement, Bragg said, "As alleged, Jake Udeh used his supervisory role at the Department of Buildings to help his co-conspirators leapfrog those abiding by the rules for as little as $500 a project."
What Prosecutors Say Happened
According to prosecutors, Udeh did not just quietly sign off on questionable paperwork. They allege he coordinated payments via text, met co-defendants in person to pick up cash, and steered certain jobs to his own team at the Department of Buildings' Development Hub at 80 Centre Street so they would be reviewed more quickly.
Officials say those moves helped select projects get priority in the bureaucratic line while everyone else waited their turn. The case, including statements from the D.A.'s office, was summarized in a video report by CBS New York.
Payments, Travel And The Co-Defendants
Prosecutors say Udeh did not act alone. According to the press release from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, three construction-industry figures are accused of paying to tilt the playing field in their favor: Jih Yeuan Hwang (also known as Mike Hwang), Anson Tse, and Shiming Tam.
The D.A. alleges Hwang paid more than $65,000 in cash and picked up the tab for Udeh's international travel, including hotel stays and flights to Paraguay and Japan. Tse and Tam are each accused of paying more than $5,000 for preferential treatment. Udeh is charged with multiple counts of bribe receiving and conspiracy, while Hwang, Tse, and Tam face bribery and conspiracy counts of their own.
DOB And DOI Respond
City officials say they did not stumble onto the case by accident. The Department of Buildings says it flagged suspicious activity after reviewing jobs under Udeh's watch, then referred those concerns to investigators.
In response, DOB says it has started auditing the files tied to Udeh and has tightened its internal rules for transferring plan reviews from one unit to another. Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani stressed the stakes, saying that "public trust in government depends on the fair and impartial enforcement of laws, without favoritism or exception." The Department of Investigation has recommended audits and policy changes aimed at shoring up the plan-review process.
What Happens Next In Court
The indictments were filed in New York State Supreme Court. Udeh is charged with multiple counts of Bribe Receiving in the Second Degree and Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree. His co-defendants face related bribery and conspiracy charges.
Assistant D.A. James Clarke is leading the prosecution. The Manhattan D.A.'s office has emphasized that the allegations are drawn from court documents and that all four defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty.
Officials say the case highlights long-standing concerns about conflicts of interest in plan review and the pressure examiners face to move projects quickly. In the wake of the indictment, city agencies say they will keep reviewing internal controls to prevent anything similar from happening again. The Manhattan D.A. publicly thanked the Department of Investigation, the DOB staff who brought the matter forward, and the investigators who worked the case.
