Corrupt Coney Island Co-Op Heads Took $900K In Bribes: DA

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — Three Coney Island co-op heads stand accused of taking almost $900,000 in bribes — which they spent on fur coats, designer handbags and property in Florida — to secure affordably-priced coop apartments for people who would not otherwise have qualified, announced prosectors.

Anna Treybich, 71, Irina Zeltser, 66, and Karina Andriyan, 38, were indicted on grand larceny charges Tuesday for fixing the application system at the Luna Park Co-Op on West 12th Street and Church Avenue over the past six years, the Brooklyn District Attorney's office announced Tuesday.

The three women demanded pricey bribes from those applying for housing at the five-building Mitchell-Lama complex, which is run with public funds to provide below market value homes to about 6,000 New Yorkers, said prosecutors.

Treybich and Zeltser, both members of the Board of Directors, and Andriyan, an office manager, were supposed to maintain and process applications approved by the city's Housing Preservation and Development Corporation, officials said.

Instead, the three women accepted about $874,000 in bribes to fix applications for 18 apartments, worth about $5 million in total, and send to HPD for approval, said officials.

During the city's investigation, law enforcement officials searched the women's homes and found dozens of fur coats, designer handbags and jewelry, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors also believe the women bought themselves apartments in Florida.

Treybich, Zeltser and Andriyan were arraigned in Brooklyn Criminal Court Monday on a 78-count indictment which includes charges of conspiracy, grand larceny and forgery, among others, said prosecutors.

“These defendants allegedly conspired to corrupt the process by which eligible prospective tenants could have access to affordable housing in Brooklyn," said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.

"Their alleged greed cheated people who were entitled to apartments that instead went to those willing to pay bribes.