Two brothers who run a mob-tied Queens pizzeria have admitted to bribing former Mayor Eric Adams’ Department of Buildings commissioner thousands of dollars in exchange for favors.
Joseph and Anthony Livreri, the co-owners of Aldo’s Pizzeria and Restaurant in Ozone Park, pleaded guilty in Manhattan Supreme Court to conspiracy and bribery counts for paying $4,000 to Eric Ulrich, Adams’ former senior advisor and DOB chief, in 2022.
“In exchange for the bribes they sent to city officials, the defendants sought jobs for themselves and family members and expedited inspections at businesses with health and building code violations,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement.
The brothers will not cooperate against Ulrich, who is facing a laundry list of corruption charges, if called to testify against him, according to the plea deal. They’re expected to be sentenced in December.
The Livreris, who are facing multiple other charges, admitted to paying off Ulrich to stop the DOB from vacating them from the Fortunato Brothers Bakery in Williamsburg, which was shut down after a fire.
They also asked Ulrich to fast-track health inspections at their pizza shop after it was forced to close due to multiple health violations, according to the brothers’ September 2023 indictment.
The pair additionally sought to cut through licensing hurdles for their codefendant, Michael Mazzio, that would allow him to tow on city highways during snowstorms.
Nadia Shihata, chief of the city’s Department of Investigations, described the brothers’ actions as “quintessential public corruption.”
“These two defendants used bribery to gain an array of City benefits, including expedited inspections at commercial businesses, access to senior members of Mayor Adams’ administration, and securing a City position for the daughter of another defendant in this case,” she said.
“Bribery and corruption have no place in New York City government. I thank the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for its partnership on this significant investigation and for working with DOI to root out corruption in City government.”
The brothers had significant ties to Adams, who himself was accused of corruption before the Department of Justice suddenly dropped the charges last year.
They donated to Adams’ campaign and hosted a pricey fundraiser at Russo’s On The Bay in Howard Beach in August 2021. The two and Ulrich also met with Adams in person at Aldo’s just 10 days before the former mayor took office, according to charging documents obtained by the New York Daily News.
Ulrich allegedly spent the bribe money at an illegal gambling club that’s partially owned by Joseph Livreri, who was hired by then-Councilman Ulrich as an advisor.
He has pleaded not guilty to a litany of corruption charges across five indictments accusing him of abusing his power at every public service position he held, according to the Daily News.
Ulrich has said he suffers from gambling and alcohol addiction — but denies allegations that he accepted bribes.
Joseph Livreri faces up to six months in jail and five years of probation. Anthony Livreri faces a sentence of five years of probation
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