Trio charged in bribery scheme at Mitchell-Lama complex in Coney Island

Prosecutors allege that Anna Treybich, Irina Zeltser and Karina Andriyan took bribes to allow some residents to frogleap the housing waiting list at the 1,600 unit Luna Park housing complex

Clockwise from top left: Anna Treybich, the Mitchell Llama apartments in Coney Island, Irina Zeltser and Karina Andriyan (Credit: Luna Park Co-Op and Google Maps)
Clockwise from top left: Anna Treybich, the Mitchell Llama apartments in Coney Island, Irina Zeltser and Karina Andriyan (Credit: Luna Park Co-Op and Google Maps)

Three people have been charged with taking $874,000 in bribes from co-op owners in Coney Island who sought to leap over lower-income residents on a waitlist for affordable housing.

The scheme, which took place at the 1,574-unit Luna Park housing complex, involved the doctoring of applications submitted to a government waitlist, and allowing those willing to pay a bribe to jump the queue, according to the New York Daily News.

The property has long been part of the Mitchell-Lama housing program, which provides affordable rental and co-op housing to low- and middle-income families.

Sign Up for the undefined Newsletter

Brooklyn prosecutors found that the defendants — Anna Treybich, Irina Zeltser and Karina Andriyan — used the bribes to pay for Florida real estate, fur coats, handbags and jewelry. The 78-count indictment involved charges of conspiracy, grand larceny and other crimes over the past six years.

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez told the outlet that the scheme “exposed a pervasive pattern of corruption and bribery in deciding who received an affordable apartment.”

In 2009, the city announced a $21 million deal today to renovate the housing complex, which would keep the building in the Mitchell-Lama affordable housing program for 20 years. [NYDN] — David Jeans