Assemblymember Ortiz fires staffer arrested for alleged $80k embezzlement
State Assembly Assistant Speaker Félix Ortiz fired one of his long-time staffers Friday, one day after the aide was arrested by federal agents for allegedly embezzling over $80,000 in campaign funds.
The staffer’s firing was announced via written statement to a small crowd gathered outside the assemblymember’s office on Friday to call for greater transparency over the missing funds.
Maruf Alam had worked in Ortiz’s office since 2012, serving as chief of staff at one point, among other roles. Locals said Alam — who was paid about $48,000 in 2017, the most recent year for which data is available, according to government data compiled by the nonprofit See Through NY — represented Ortiz at Democratic County Committee meetings.