New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been under suspicion for various crimes, with his home recently searched by FBI agents. Investigators are looking into claims that Adams accepted funds from several businessmen, under the guise of charity. Among the names mentioned in the documents is "Businessman-4," who is believed to be Tolib Mansurov, a businessman from Uzbekistan.
But who exactly is Tolib Mansurov?
There’s not much information readily available about him. According to his LinkedIn profile, Mansurov is the founder and CEO of United Elite Group, a New York City-based company. He’s also listed as a senior general contractor, suggesting he has ties to the construction and development sector in the city. However, beyond these professional details, the public picture of Mansurov remains somewhat elusive.
Tolib Mansurov studied at Omsk State University from 1997 to 2002, where he earned a master’s degree in law. His LinkedIn profile highlights him as a “strong business development specialist” with expertise in law and business. Mansurov reportedly holds multiple professional licenses, including certifications from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the New York City Department of Buildings, and the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.
Mansurov’s company, United Elite Group, is noted for its over 12 years of experience in high-quality residential interior renovations across New York City. The company’s website emphasizes its dedication to excellence and craftsmanship in transforming residential spaces in the city.
United Elite Group is also recognized as a top 10 contractor on Houzz in New York City, with multiple 5-star ratings among over 19,000 contractor profiles, according to the company’s website.
So, what ties Mayor Eric Adams and Tolib Mansurov together?
The key connection comes from a 57-page federal indictment charging Eric Adams with bribery, campaign finance violations, and conspiracy. The document identifies "Businessman-4" as someone who "operated a construction company in the New York City area." While Mansurov is not directly named, his role as the owner of United Elite Group, a construction firm in NYC, aligns with these details.
Beyond his construction business, Tolib Mansurov is also the founder of the Silk Road Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Brooklyn that supports the Uzbek and Central Asian communities in New York.
The indictment alleges that "Businessman-4" and his employees made charitable donations to Mayor Adams in December 2020, which were later revealed to be part of an effort to increase the businessman’s influence over the mayor. At one point, "Businessman-4" reportedly attempted to donate $10,000 from his personal bank account. However, Adams’ staff informed him that the legal limit for donations was $2,000. In response, the businessman spread the donation across contributions from himself and four employees to stay within legal limits.
On December 17, 2020, Tolib Mansurov personally donated $2,000 to Eric Adams' 2021 mayoral campaign. Additionally, four of his employees from United Elite Group—Oybek Shokirov, Umid Vahidov, Natan Kho, and Sherzod Kamolov—each contributed $2,000, according to campaign finance records.
This aligns with the time frame outlined in the federal indictment, which claims that Businessman-4, believed to be Mansurov, was instructed by a representative of Adams to funnel illegal campaign donations through employees.
Oybek Shokirov, besides working for United Elite Group, serves as the treasurer of the Silk Road Foundation, the non-profit founded by Mansurov. Shokirov also made a separate donation of $5,000 to Mayor Adams' legal defense fund on December 11, 2023.
Relations between Mayor Eric Adams and Tolib Mansurov's Silk Road Foundation appear to have grown stronger over the years, fostering a connection between the foundation and New York City Hall. In July 2023, Adams hosted a roundtable discussion at City Hall, where he engaged with the Silk Road Foundation to hear its views on the Uzbek community in New York. This event was followed by Adams' participation in a flag-raising ceremony in August 2023, held to celebrate Uzbekistan's independence. The event was organized by the Silk Road Foundation, and during the ceremony, Adams referred to New York as the “Tashkent of America,” underscoring his connection with the Uzbek community.
In addition to these public events, Adams attended iftar dinners sponsored by the Silk Road Foundation, which took place at the Emir Palace in Brooklyn. The mayor participated in such dinners in both April and March of 2023, highlighting the foundation’s influence and its relationship with City Hall.
Prosecutors overseeing the case against Mayor Eric Adams reported that Tolib Mansurov and his employees were interrogated with their lawyers present. During these interrogations, Mansurov acknowledged his involvement in the case concerning the transfer of money to Adams' election campaign, describing the contributions as “fake donations.” He also provided testimony in an unrelated fraud case.
Journalists from the Documented website attempted to reach out to Mansurov and the four United Elite Group employees multiple times, but were unsuccessful. It was noted that Vahidov and Kamolov no longer reside in the United States, while Nathan Kho declined to answer questions regarding the alleged fake donations.
A representative for Mayor Adams did not respond to Documented's inquiries about the relationship with Mansurov. Similarly, Nicholas Biase, the chief of public affairs for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, also declined to comment on the ongoing investigation. This lack of communication from both parties adds to the complexity of the case, leaving many questions unanswered.
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