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In an email blast late in the afternoon on Tuesday, July 30, Thomas, who has been at the center of a chaotic situation at City Hall for nearly a month, alleged that Wallace “mortgaged ($1 million) worth of his Mount Vernon real estate empire” to bail out Jose Luperon, who was prosecuted for selling crack-cocaine.
Luperon and his brother, Omar, were charged with operating as a major trafficker, also known as the “drug kingpin” statute, according to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in 2017. At the time of his arrest, the NYPD seized a million dollars in cash. He remained in jail until his bail was posted by Wallace.
According to the DA, Luperon remained free on that bail until his sentencing in March last year, at which point the bonds posted by Wallace were released.
Thomas said that “Wallace has never explained his connection to Luperon or why he bailed out the convicted drug dealer. In a separate court filing, Wallace falsely represented under oath that the bonds he posted were for a construction project.
According to Thomas, Wallace pledged three properties he owns to Lexington National Insurance to secure the $1 million bail bond for Luperon. The three Mount Vernon properties Wallace pledged for the drug trafficker's release included his home and properties on East 1st Street.
“Thomas' court papers expressed concern that Wallace could become Mayor if the Court grants Wallace's request,” a Thomas spokesperson noted. “He asked judge Ecker to consider whether the court should allow as "acting mayor" a man who, not only lied in court about his finances but pledged $1 million to bail out a drug trafficker.”
Wallace took to social media to dismiss any claims of misappropriated funds or dishonest, calling it a political ploy by Thomas, who was ordered to leave office in September following his guilty plea to corruption charges.
“The article posted by former Mayor Thomas is more sideshow, more misdirection from a convicted criminal who has nothing left to offer this city,” Wallace posted on Twitter.
“Former Mayor Thomas’ accusations have nothing to do with the current case involving the former mayor v. myself, the city council, the city clerk and the comptroller. I have done nothing wrong and have helped others make bail in my life and business.”
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