S
tate officials seized cell phones from Cushman & Wakefield broker Diana Boutross and two others upon their return from a trip to Japan. The seizures are part of the Manhattan District Attorney's office investigation into possible bribery and money laundering in commercial property leases across the city. Boutross, who has not been accused of wrongdoing, started handling the firm's account with the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) last October.

    Boutross joined Cushman in 2015 as an executive vice president and was later named vice chair. She represents landlords and tenants on retail deals and office sales. Her bio also indicates she represents Japanese hotels' retail development. Before joining Cushman, Boutross worked at Winick Realty Group for over 15 years, helping Whole Foods open its first Williamsburg location.

    Cushman & Wakefield has a $40.5 million contract to manage the city's public safety answering center in the Bronx and was hired to provide appraisal services related to an apartment building and the Ace Hotel. City Hall did not respond to requests for more information. A representative for Cushman declined comment.

    Boutross has a good reputation in the industry, according to former landlord clients and brokers who spoke to TRD. She is known for her connections with landlords and tenant clients and has worked on major retail deals. Campaign finance records show Boutross donated $10,000 to Eric Adams' mayoral campaign in 2019, though most of it was returned.

    Landlords have lobbied deputy commissioner Jesse Hamilton for municipal leases, including the owners of 110 William Street, where the city's Administration for Children's Services agreed to take 641,000 square feet. Several senior officials in the administration have left since Adams' indictment on bribery and other charges.