Bribery Case Against Caller and Ulrich Dismissed

By Katie McFadden

The bribery case against real estate developer Mark Caller, who built One Sixteen and Beach 101, and former District 32 Councilman and NYC Buildings Commissioner Eric Ulrich, has been dismissed.

In September 2023, Caller, of the Marcal Group, which built One Sixteen at 133 Beach 116th and Beach 101, where the old Irish Circle used to be, was accused of selling a discounted apartment to Ulrich at One Sixteen, in exchange for help in getting a zoning change for a property being developed by Marcal Group and an expedited inspection at one of his buildings. Ulrich was issued five different indictments by the New York State Supreme Court for charges such as Conspiracy, Bribe Receiving, and Offering a False Instrument for Filing, along with six associates, allegedly using his positions of power as a councilman, senior mayoral advisor and former Mayor Eric Adams’ Department of Buildings Commissioner to do so.

In a 2023 press release regarding the indictments, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. said, “We allege that Eric Ulrich accepted or solicited more than $150,000 worth of bribes in less than two years by monetizing each elected and appointed role he held in New York City government. At every possible turn, he allegedly used his taxpayer-funded positions as City Councilmember, then Senior Mayoral Advisor, and finally Department of Buildings Commissioner to line his pockets.” Ulrich turned himself in on September 13, 2023, and pled not guilty to all charges.

On Friday, January 28, Judge Daniel Conviser dismissed the case involving Ulrich and Caller. The case had accused Caller of coordinating with then senior advisor to Adams, Ulrich, to coordinate DOB and FDNY inspections that closed down a low-income dwelling unit in Rockaway Beach. Additionally, it alleged Caller used Ulrich’s help to influence the Department of City Planning to approve a zoning change needed for his new mixed-use residential and commercial building. In return, it was alleged that Caller gave Ulrich a $2,000 per month discount on rent for his beachfront apartment and an option to buy it for $55,000 less than asking.

As per The Real Deal, the judge cited three reasons to dismissing the case involving Caller, saying the grand jury didn’t know the full story of the relationship between Caller, as Ulrich had provided lawful assistance to Caller, going back to when he was a councilman. The judge argued that had the jury known this, they would have to “draw the implausible conclusion that, after getting benefits from Ulrich for multiple years, Caller then decided to bribe Ulrich to get the same benefits.” He also argued that it wasn’t clear if Ulrich received a better deal than others on his apartment, and the indictment said the bribery took place between December 21, 2021 and March 18, 2022, but Caller and Ulrich didn’t even start discussing the apartment until March 19, 2022.

While the case involving Caller was dismissed, the judge refused to dismiss the four other indictments against Ulrich, so charges including include bribery, conspiracy and offering a false instrument, remain. The next court date involving these indictments is set for March 3, 2026.

In response to the latest decision, Ulrich shared a statement on Facebook saying, “I am grateful for the Judge’s decision to dismiss this case against me. As I’ve said from day one, I am innocent until proven guilty, not the other way around. And I am entitled to my day in court where all the facts and evidence can be presented fairly and transparently. I trust that in the end a jury of my peers, not the court of public opinion, will restore my good name and reputation.”