Democratic member of the New York City Council Ruben Wills was arrested on corruption charges on Wednesday, accused of illegally pocketing roughly $30,000 in public funds for his own use, Reuters reported.
Wills routed money from city and state sources to a non-profit he founded, called New York 4 Life, and to his campaign committee, state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a statement, according to Reuters.
New York 4 Life is described on Wills' website as an advocacy group for single mothers, Reuters reported. Some of the money was spent shopping at department stores Nordstrom, Century 21 and Macy's, where Wills bought a $750 Louis Vuitton handbag, among other items, the statement said, Reuters reported.
Wills told reporters after an appearance in Queens Criminal Court that he was innocent, according to Reuters.
"I have the full support of my district and full support of city council," Wills said, Reuters reported.
Wills was elected to the council in 2010 from a district in the city's Queens borough, according to Reuters. He is indicted on grand larceny, falsifying business records, scheming to defraud and filing a false check, Schneiderman added, according to Reuters. The top charge of grand larceny carries a maximum prison sentence of seven years.
"New Yorkers are repeatedly asked to have faith in our leaders, and it appears that faith has been shattered once again," Schneiderman said, Reuters reported.
Wills previously served as chief of staff for former state Senator Shirley Huntley, who pleaded guilty to embezzling $87,700 from a non-profit in 2013 and who covertly recorded several lawmakers as part of a corruption problem, according to Reuters. According to the court documents, Wills was one of the politicians she recorded.
In April, two state legislators were arrested on corruption charges, and five other lawmakers were charged with accepting bribes, with Wills' arrest being the latest corruption case involving New York politicians, Reuters reported.
