Earlier today in Brooklyn federal court, Luis Camarena pleaded guilty to participating in a kickback conspiracy involving contracts for surveillance cameras at homeless shelters managed by a non-profit organization. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Camarena received payments from these contracts and shared a portion with employees of the organization who authorized his business’s invoices. United States District Judge Hector Gonzalez presided over the proceeding. Camarena faces up to five years in prison when sentenced.
Camarena is the fourth defendant to plead guilty in this case. His co-defendants—Gary DSilva, Jonathan Velazquez, and Pradeep Nigam—also entered guilty pleas earlier this month on similar charges. DSilva and Velazquez were employees of the non-profit responsible for approving vendor payments, while Nigam’s business provided information technology services to the organization. All four defendants face up to five years’ imprisonment each and have agreed to pay a total of $1,025,647.78 in restitution to the organization.
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 show that DSilva and Velazquez worked in management information systems at a Brooklyn-based non-profit serving homeless individuals across New York City. They were responsible for selecting vendors and approving payments related to information technology projects.
The investigation found that DSilva and Velazquez orchestrated two separate schemes: one involved directing camera installation contracts toward Camarena’s company in return for profit-sharing; another saw them authorizing payments from Nigam’s IT business while receiving undisclosed financial benefits from him as well. In one example cited by prosecutors, DSilva used his personal email account to send an invoice template for Nigam’s business so it could be submitted for payment approval by their employer.
Prosecutors allege that about $1.6 million was paid out from the non-profit to Camarena’s company during these schemes’ operation period; approximately $1.9 million went from the organization to Nigam’s firm as well.
As part of their plea agreements: DSilva and Velazquez will each forfeit around $714,000; Nigam will give up roughly $413,000; Camarena has agreed to relinquish about $224,000—the amounts reflect illicit gains received through these conspiracies.
The Public Integrity Section within the U.S. Attorney’s Office is handling prosecution duties on this matter with Assistant United States Attorneys Turner Buford and Laura Zuckerwise leading efforts supported by Paralegal Specialist Johnson Peow.
The defendants are identified as Gary DSilva (47) from Manalapan, NJ; Jonathan Velazquez (55) from Massapequa Park, NY; Luis A. Camarena (58) from Bronx, NY; and Pradeep Nigam (63) from Edison, NJ.
