Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr. indicted six people on Friday for a straw donor scheme intended to gain them favor with New York Mayor Eric Adams.

The ringleader of the group Dwayne Montgomery is a former NYPD inspector, and he allegedly used relatives and friends as straw donors to get a generous eight-time match from the city, then paid the donors back out of his own pocket to the tune of $40,000.

His donations got an additional $320,000 for the Adams campaign, but the limit for any individual can contribute is supposed to be only $2,000.

Other defendants include Shamsuddin Riza, Riza's accountant Millicent Redick, Ronald Peek, and Yahya and Shahid Mushtaq.

"Deliberate scheme"

The Mushtaqs own Ecosafety Consultants, and were taught by Riza how to conduct the scheme. They then made donations in the names of their employees.

Ecosafety Consultants was also charged in the scheme.

“We allege a deliberate scheme to game the system in a blatant attempt to gain power,” Bragg said in a statement. “The New York City Campaign Finance Board program is meant to support our democracy and amplify the voices of New York City voters. When the integrity of that program is corrupted, all New Yorkers suffer.”

Adams is not accused of any wrongdoing and has said he didn't know about the scheme.

"The campaign thanks the District Attorney’s Office for their hard work on behalf of taxpayers,” said Adams’ 2021 campaign spokesperson Evan Thies. “There is no indication that the campaign or the mayor is involved in this case or under investigation. The campaign always held itself to the highest standards and we would never tolerate these actions. The campaign will of course work with the DA’s Office, the Campaign Finance Board, and any relevant authorities.”

The extent of the scheme

Montgomery and Riza are related to each other, and conspired together to get favors from the mayor for themselves and their associates.

That isn't how the political process is supposed to work, however, and Adams apparently wasn't taking the bait if he had even been approached yet.

Montgomery, Riza, Redick and Shaid Mushtaq were arraigned today and released without bail after pleading not guilty.

Peek and Yahya Mushtaq will be arraigned at a later date.

Bragg no doubt thinks this balances out the Donald Trump indictment and makes everything look fair, but it really doesn't. These indictments were completely justified, but Trump's wasn't, no matter how many Democrats Bragg indicts.