TODAY, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced his nomination of Nadia Shihata as Commissioner of the Department of Investigation (DOI).
The DOI serves as the city's independent oversight agency, investigating corruption, waste, fraud and abuse in city government and promoting transparency and accountability. Its authority extends to any city agency, officer, elected official or employee, as well as individuals and entities that do business with or receive benefits from the city. Under the City Charter, the City Council must confirm the DOI commissioner.
Shihata served more than 11 years as a federal prosecutor at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York (EDNY). As chief of the Organized Crime and Gangs Section, she supervised complex racketeering and violent crime investigations and prosecutions. She also served as deputy chief of the Office's Public Integrity Section, overseeing public corruption cases involving bribery, fraud, theft of government funds, money laundering and drug trafficking by correctional officers.
Among other cases, Shihata led the investigation and prosecution of R&B musician Robert Sylvester Kelly, known as R. Kelly, who was convicted in federal court in Brooklyn of racketeering and related offenses and sentenced to 30 years in prison. The case marked the first time Kelly was held criminally accountable following decades of allegations.
She also led an extensive investigation into the sexual abuse of female inmates by federal correctional officers at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, resulting in the arrests and convictions of two lieutenants and a correctional officer on civil rights and sexual abuse charges.
Most recently, Nadia was a founding partner at Shihata & Geddes LLP, now known as Corva Law LLP, a woman-owned law firm in New York City focused on civil rights and sexual misconduct matters, internal investigations, wrongful convictions and criminal defense.
"For years, scandal in City Hall chipped away at New Yorkers' trust in government. Our administration is turning the page on the politics of corruption, demonstrating what a transparent and focused government can deliver for New Yorkers. As a federal prosector, Nadia took on the powerful and rooted out corruption wherever she found it. If confirmed, she will help usher in a new era of accountability as we build a government that New Yorkers can trust," said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani.
"I am deeply honored by this nomination and excited at the prospect of returning to public service in the city I love and call home. The Department of Investigation plays a vital role in rooting out and preventing corruption and waste in city government, helping to ensure that city agencies operate with integrity, accountability, and fairness for all New Yorkers - no matter their background, economic status, or proximity to power. If confirmed by the City Council, I look forward to leading the dedicated professionals at DOI who do this essential work every day," said Nadia Shihata.
The DOI is one of the city's oldest law enforcement agencies. The department is staffed by inspectors general, investigators, attorneys, forensic auditors and computer forensic specialists. Its jurisdiction includes criminal and civil investigatory authority over more than 45 mayoral agencies, as well as numerous other city entities, commissions and authorities.
Once available, official photos from this announcement can be found at https://www.flickr.com/photos/nycmayorsoffice/ .
