By Associated Press - Thursday, January 12, 2017

NEW YORK (AP) - Dozens of landlords and seven National Grid employees have been indicted on corruption charges in a scheme to bypass city regulations by illegally installing gas meters in exchange for cash.

Prosecutors identified the mastermind of the conspiracy as 47-year-old Weldon Findlay, a former National Grid employee. He and others face charges of bribery, falsifying records and enterprise corruption.

Illegal gas meters were installed in 33 homes in Brooklyn and Queens for prices ranging from $1,300 to $2,500 per meter. The scheme happened between January and June of 2016.

Prosecutors say the tight real estate market in Brooklyn put pressure on landlords to rent rooms quickly. They say there was no risk to public safety.

Many of the 37 defendants were arraigned on Thursday. Information on Findlay’s lawyer wasn’t immediately available.

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