Hudson Valley Man Accused In World Trade Center Bribery Scheme

A Stony Point resident is accused in an alleged bribery scheme involving the rebuilding of the World Trade Center campus. New York State Attorney General Letitia James announced the indictments Wednesday.

The alleged scheme involved more than $17,000 in Knicks tickets, a Florida golf trip and other gifts for a construction manager in order to score preferential treatment as contractors for the rebuilding of the WTC, James said in the announcement.

Following a year-long investigation, James announced felony charges against Michael Garrison, 59, of Stony Point, James Luckie, 58, of Setauket and Paul Angerame, 59, of Manhattan for an alleged "pay-to-play" bribery scheme.

The deal endangered workers and ran through Port Authority of New York and New Jersey funds, officials alleged.

"These individuals were trusted with rebuilding the site of the worst terror attack in American history, but instead, allegedly squandered public funds to line their own pockets," James said in a statement.

"Not only did they trade lavish gifts for confidential information and preferential work, but they put lives at risk by hiring unqualified workers to carry out serious electrical work at the site. Let this serve as a loud and clear message: we will crack down on corruption of any kind and will work to ensure public integrity and accountability throughout New York," she said.

The bribes dates back to September 2015, according to the allegations.

Garrison and Angerame, formerly of the electrical contractor Hatzel & Buehler, purchased more than $17,000 in gifts to bribe Luckie, formerly of Cushman & Wakefield, into hiring them to provide the electrical maintenance services at the WTC, according to the AG's allegations.

The Port Authority owns the WTC site. Cushman & Wakefield was tasked with providing various management and repairs back in 2013.

The gifts included New York Knicks tickets, 2015 Mets World Series tickets, luxury car services, a Florida golf trip, and a golf outing at Trump Ferry Point, officials alleged.

Luckie took them, and then, the AG's office alleges, he gave Angerame and Garrison information regarding the work that the Port Authority was soliciting contractors to do. The information included confidential details about the documents soliciting proposals from contractors, budgeting, electrical work, and other assistance that was not given to competitors.

From January 2016 through May 2017, seven unqualified electricians with personal ties to Garrison and Angerame got some $1.26 million in compensation from the Port Authority for work on the site, according to the AG.

Safety complaints regarding the unqualified electricians are what first sparked the Port Authority to investigate.

Angerame, Garrison, and Luckie were charged with various counts of corrupting the government and charges involving bribery, according to the AG.

The two contractors denied the charges.

"Mr. Garrison has entered a plea of not guilty to these legally and factually flawed allegations," said his lawyer, David Scott Smith of the firm Smith & King. "This case will be vigorously litigated in motions and at trial if it isn’t dismissed before then. Either way, we expect he will be vindicated."

A lawyer for Angerame, Anthony M. Capozzolo, said, "Mr. Angerame has worked in the construction industry for 25 years with an impeccable record and was, in fact, a recovery volunteer at the World Trade Center site on September 13, 2001, immediately after the attack."

"In bringing this case, the Attorney General’s Office, without notice, has wrongly decided to label lawful business practices as criminal. We intend to fight this case and litigate these issues vigorously," said Capozzolo, a partner with Lewis Baach Kaufmann Middlemiss PLLC.

A lawyer for Luckie did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

The charges could lead to up to 15 years in state prison if the men are convicted, the AG's office said.

By Sydney Pereira, Patch Staff. Patch Editor Lanning Taliaferro contributed to this report.