Former City Schools Exec Faces Corruption Charges, Records Show

NEW YORK CITY — A former city schools executive stands accused of using food supply contracts to illegally funnel public funds into his own pocket, court records show.

Eric Goldstein, former chief executive officer for the Office of School Support Services, faces charges that he used his position to snag a contract for a company in which he had a stake, Brooklyn federal prosecutors said.

Acting U.S. Attorney Jacquelyn Kasulis also accused Goldstein of accepting thousands of dollars in bribes in a statement issued Wednesday afternoon.

“Goldstein is alleged to have abused his position as a senior executive with the Department of Education...for pure financial gain," Kasulis stated.

"In exchange, Goldstein’s co-conspirators obtained lucrative contracts to provide food services that consisted of substandard products that were served to students, teachers and staff in public schools.”

Prosecutors argue Goldstein used his official position to gain a contract to Somma Foods, a company whose products were yanked from school lunches in 2017 after students found metal, plastic and bone in the chicken tenders.

Somma Foods is not named in the federal complaint but its executives — Blaine Iler, Michael Turley and Brian Twomey — are named as co-conspirators and the contaminated chicken tenders are referenced in the charges, records show.

Goldstein's alleged partners appear to have referred to him as "Roger Rabbit," the complaint notes.

The three businessmen were arrested in Texas and Arkansas earlier Wednesday morning, according to prosecutors.

Goldstein was arraigned on corruption charges in Brooklyn Federal Court Wednesday and will be released on a $150,000 bond, prosecutors said.

Somma did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment.