A staffer for New York State Assemblymember Félix Ortiz was arrested by federal investigators Thursday on charges of wire fraud. The staffer, 29-year-old Maruf Alam of Kensington, allegedly diverted around $80,000 in campaign funds to his personal bank account, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York said.
Authorities allege that Alam submitted false campaign finance disclosure reports to the New York State Board of Elections and failed to disclose large cash withdrawals from the campaign’s bank account.
Alam has held various titles within Ortiz’s office since 2012, including chief of staff, according to the filing.
The unsealed affidavit says that, when FBI agents interviewed Ortiz in March, the assemblymember stated that Alam had acted as treasurer for two campaign accounts “on a volunteer basis,” and in that capacity had filed the disclosure reports to the NYSBOE.
An FBI review of Alam’s personal checking account revealed large cash deposits that appear inconsistent with his earnings, according to the complaint.
Ortiz, who represents Sunset Park, released a statement Thursday afternoon declining to comment on the allegations.
“I am just now being made aware of the charges against my staff member. I do not have any further information,” he said.
Alam was scheduled to appear in court at 2:30 p.m. Thursday and was expected to be released on bond, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
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