Sezgin Baran Korkmaz, a Turkish businessman facing charges of money laundering and fraud in the United States, attempted to donate $50,000 to New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ 2021 election campaign through illegal means, according to a report by the T24 news website.
The report, which cites anonymous sources, confirmed that Korkmaz is the individual referred to as “Businessman-3” in a recently unsealed indictment accusing Adams of accepting illegal foreign contributions and bribes. The 57-page indictment, made public on September 26, details numerous instances of Adams allegedly soliciting and accepting campaign contributions from foreign nationals, including Korkmaz.
The indictment alleges that during a January 2019 meeting in İstanbul, Adams, then the Brooklyn Borough president, and a promoter solicited campaign contributions from Businessman-3, reportedly Korkmaz, who agreed to provide $50,000 or more.
As a Turkish national, Korkmaz was legally prohibited from making such donations.
The indictment further claims Adams and his staff discussed funneling the contributions through US straw donors. According to T24, before the donations could be made, Korkmaz’s legal troubles in Turkey and the US became public, and Adams later declined to meet with him in New York.
Korkmaz, who was arrested in Austria in 2021 and extradited to the US, faces up to 20 years in prison on each count of money laundering, wire fraud and obstruction. He has been accused of laundering more than $133 million through bank accounts he controlled in Turkey and Luxembourg.
Korkmaz was reportedly released pending trial in Utah on July 25, 2023.
Korkmaz’s alleged involvement with Adams is part of a broader corruption case involving illegal foreign contributions and bribes Adams allegedly received from Turkish businesspeople and government officials.
The indictment also details Adams’ ties to other Turkish nationals, including Turkish businesswoman Demet Sabancı Çetindoğan, who allegedly provided Adams with discounted stays at her luxury hotel in İstanbul. Çetindoğan denied any corrupt dealings, saying she only intended to show Adams “Turkish hospitality.”
Adams, who pleaded not guilty to all charges in Manhattan federal court, is the first sitting New York City mayor to be criminally indicted. Prosecutors allege the bribes were offered to secure Adams’ political influence, including speeding up approvals for the Turkish Consulate General building in New York City.