Chapter 6 - THE EAST RIVER DEAL HAD A SIDE LETTERThis became the heart of the corporate scandal.
Whitmore’s subcontract was legitimate.
The bid itself was competitive.
No evidence showed the entire contract had been bought.
Good.
But Sloan had created a side network around change orders.
After award, infrastructure projects generate modifications.
Unexpected soil.
Utility conflicts.
Design adjustments.
Those change orders can be worth millions.
Sloan connected consultants who influenced which problems became “urgent.”
Hudson Civic Strategies received fees.
Other entities received percentages.
One city procurement adviser had an undisclosed consulting relationship with a subcontractor in Sloan’s network.
Potential bribery.
Potential honest-services fraud.
Needs proof.
Not every payment was corrupt.
But enough were suspicious that federal investigators became involved.
Preston’s approvals were used to fund consultant retainers that fed the network.
Did he know?
Evidence initially looked terrible.
Then emails showed he repeatedly asked Sloan:
What exactly is Hudson delivering?
Her answers:
Stakeholder access.
Community coordination.
Government interface.
Vague.
He approved anyway.
Negligent?
Maybe more.
Criminal intent?
Not automatically.
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That distinction would determine whether he lost only his marriage and job—
or his freedom.
