By M. Thomas Nast and Frankie Pressman
The Staten Island District Attorney’s Office is preparing to file an additional 100 criminal counts against Ettore Mazzei, a key financial supporter and campaign contributor of embattled NYC Council Member Kamillah Hanks.
Mazzei, already facing charges for leading a major drug trafficking operation, now stands accused of orchestrating a Ponzi scheme that targeted retirement funds, siphoning away hard-earned savings.
A source with knowledge of the investigation revealed that Mazzei is accused of luring victims into fraudulent business ventures, promising them high returns on investments that didn’t exist.
“Mazzei preyed on vulnerable retirees, convincing them to invest their life savings, and used new investors’ money to pay off earlier victims,” the source said.
Many victims, the source added, have lost substantial retirement funds, leaving them financially ruined.
Mazzei, who has long been connected to criminal activities on Staten Island, was a key contributor to Kamillah Hanks’ 2020 City Council campaign, raising serious questions about Hanks’ ties to the accused fraudster.
Despite the growing controversy, Hanks has yet to return the tainted contributions, and her silence on the matter has only intensified scrutiny from local residents and political observers.
“These new charges will include grand larceny, securities fraud, and elder financial abuse,” the source close to the investigation confirmed. “Mazzei’s scheme targeted the elderly—those who trusted him with their retirement savings—and left them with nothing.”
The additional 100 charges are expected to bring significant legal pressure on Mazzei, who was already facing drug trafficking charges. Some victims were Staten Island residents who believed Mazzei was helping them secure their financial futures. Instead, they found themselves ensnared in a scheme that enriched Mazzei at their expense.
Local residents expressed outrage over the revelations.
“The fact that someone like Mazzei, who was contributing to a City Council member’s campaign, could do something this despicable is beyond belief,” said one North Shore resident with knowledge of the situation. “Hanks needs to return that money and distance herself from this criminal immediately.”
The source, knowledgeable about the investigation, emphasized that the DA’s office is working tirelessly to bring justice to the victims.
“This man not only ran a drug ring but also destroyed people’s financial security through deceit and fraud. The community deserves better,” the source said.
Council Member Kamillah Hanks, embroiled in scandals involving unpaid campaign workers and ties to controversial figures like Mazzei, faces growing pressure to address the situation. With the DA’s office expanding its case against Mazzei, Hanks' political future is increasingly uncertain. Her continued acceptance of Mazzei’s contributions, despite his mounting criminal charges, has sparked widespread criticism.
The Staten Island DA's office already publicly discussed the additional charges at the NYPD 120 Police Precinct Council Meeting. Later this week, a press conference is expected to formally announce the new charges against Mazzei and provide additional details about the investigation.
With Mazzei at the center of both drug and financial fraud scandals, his downfall marks another blow in the borough’s ongoing battle against organized crime. Hanks, facing mounting scrutiny, may soon have to answer for her association with the accused Ponzi scheme.
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