Disgraced ex-New York City Buildings Department head Eric Ulrich is finally standing trial — more than three years after he was indicted with trading political favors for thousands of dollars worth of bribes.
Ulrich, 41, will have a bench trial that kicks off Monday in front of Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Daniel Conviser — with Manhattan prosecutors set to outline accusations that he ran a years-long scheme doling out political short cuts in exchange for goodies.
Prosecutors allege that Ulrich, a former Republican city councilman, used the funds to up his profile with a premium $10,000 Mets season tickets plan, bespoke suits and a painting by an apprentice of Salvador Dali.
Ulrich was charged in September 2023 with a total of 16 felonies that spread across five indictments stemming from his time served in three political posts — including as a Queens councilmember and a stint as a senior advisor to former Mayor Eric Adams.
He lasted only six months in the buildings commissioner role before he resigned following an investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.
The disgraced DOB head will be tried on two separate indictments including one with co-defendant Michael Mazzio, an operator of a Brooklyn towing company, who paid Ulrich to help expedite building and health inspections, according to the indictment.
Prosecutors have said Ulrich, who has claimed that he’s too poor to afford an attorney, used the funds to purchase Mets season ticket packages, including shelling out nearly $5,000 for 10 tickets to the Mets-Yankees Subway Series in 2022.
Ulrich was initially charged alongside six other defendants, including Queens pizza joint owners and brothers, Joseph and Anthony Livreri, who are alleged to have mafia ties.
The Livreri brothers, the co-owners of Aldo’s Pizzeria and Restaurant in Ozone Park, pleaded guilty last month to conspiracy and bribery charges after admitting to paying Ulrich $4,000 to stop the DOB from forcing them to vacate a business that was torched in a fire.
One of the indictments against Adams donor and real estate developer Mark Caller was dismissed in January.
The cases of other defendants in other indictments — Paul Grego and Victor Truta — remain active, according to court records.
Ulrich is charged with multiple counts of offering a false instrument for filing and bribery.
He faces up to a minimum of five years behind bars if convicted of bribery.
The trial is expected to last several weeks.
