Ex-City Official Solicited Church Gifts From Contractors: Board

NEW YORK, NY — A former city Department of Transportation official was fined $10,000 and forced to resign after getting city contractors to give more than $58,000 to the Staten Island church he led, then used some of the money to fund his personal trip to Africa, the Conflicts of Interest Board announed Monday.

Olakunle Ashimi stepped down from his job as a highway transportation specialist in March 2017 after admitting to soliciting donations from two firms whose contracts he oversaw, in violation of city ethics rules, according to a COIB settlement finalized Dec. 14.

Ashimi was involved in awarding city pacts to firms as the assistant director of contracts from 2007 through 2014. Two of those contracts for road-marking services went to Brooklyn-based Iberia Road Markings Corp. and New Jersey-based Denville Line Painting Inc.

Over roughly the same seven-year period, Iberia gave about $58,000 and Denville gave $50 at Ashimi's behest to God's Offspring Christian Church, the congregation he founded in 2005 in Stapleton, Staten Island. Ashimi is the church's pastor and president, and has "complete authority and control" over its funds, according to the COIB settlement he signed last February.

Ashimi admitted to using some of the money for personal expenses including the trip to Africa, car payments and his personal cellphone, the settlement says.

The DOT charged Ashimi with violating its code of conduct in October 2016. Ashimi paid a $10,000 fine for his malfeasance in addition to resigning after 26 years with the agency and agreeing never to seek a job there again, the settlement shows. He was scheduled to pay the last installement of the fine by Nov. 1

Asked for comment on the settlement, DOT spokesman Scott Gastel said, "The matter has been resolved." He did not answer a question about when DOT became aware of Ashimi's behavior.

Iberia Road Markings Corp. has an active contract with the DOT for road resurfacing, which is separate from the road marking operations that Ashimi oversaw, the agency said.

The voicemail box for a number listed under Ashimi's name was full. His attorney, Michael Coviello, did not immediately respond to a phone message seeking comment.

(Lead image via Shutterstock)