Notorious Fraud Expert Sam Antar Alleges Zohran Mamdani's Campaign Launders Public Funds Through Non-Profit

New York, NY – Sam E. Antar, the notorious former Chief Financial Officer of the "Crazy Eddie" electronics chain and a self-proclaimed expert in white-collar fraud, has publicly accused New York Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani of operating a political machine that allegedly launders public funds. Antar, known for his role in the "Panama pump" scheme, stated that Mamdani's "grassroots" machine is financed by "public $$ laundered through Make the Road NY & its (c)(4)."

Antar, who was convicted for his part in the "Crazy Eddie" fraud of the 1980s, has since reinvented himself as a forensic accountant and fraud investigator, frequently publishing his findings on his "White Collar Fraud" website. His past experience in financial deception lends a unique, albeit controversial, perspective to his current allegations against political figures and organizations. He asserts that he understands the mechanisms of financial misconduct, framing his current accusations within that context.

According to Antar's detailed investigations published on his website, Make the Road New York (MRNY), a non-profit that has received over $27 million in taxpayer funds since 2010, allegedly uses legal loopholes to transfer public money to its political action committees. This dual structure, Antar claims, allows publicly funded non-profits to subsidize partisan political activities, effectively transforming public funds into political power. He argues that this mechanism undermines the transparency and integrity of political campaigns.

Mamdani's campaign has often been characterized as a "grassroots, volunteer movement," emphasizing neighborhood organizing and democratic socialist principles. However, Antar's allegations challenge this narrative, suggesting that the campaign's financial operations are more akin to a "corporate political machine disguised as a movement." He contends that despite Mamdani's stated opposition to corruption, his campaign's alleged financial practices mirror the very issues he claims to fight.

In a pointed statement, Antar asserted, > "He’s not fighting corruption. He’s copying it—badly." This accusation implies that Mamdani's alleged methods, while attempting to appear legitimate, are merely a poorly executed imitation of past corrupt financial schemes. The allegations raise significant questions about the funding of political campaigns and the oversight of public funds channeled through non-profit organizations in New York.