NEW YORK — Charges were dismissed Tuesday against one of the six people accused in a campaign finance scheme aimed at trying to curry favor with then-candidate and now Mayor Eric Adams.

Ronald Peek, 66, was one of six defendants including a retired NYPD inspector indicted in July 2023 for conspiring to evade campaign finance laws in 2020 and 2021 by funneling money to the Adams campaign through straw donors.

On Tuesday, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Zachary Weintraub cited Peek’s lack of a criminal record and government service in both New York and Florida in formally agreeing to the dismissal in a hearing before Judge Althea Drysdale. He noted Peek did not profit in any way from the alleged scheme.

Prosecutors have said neither Adams nor the campaign were aware of the efforts.

The dismissal came after Peek’s lawyer Ian Niles submitted a motion to dismiss in the interests of justice on May 28, Niles said.

“There was no apparent intent by Mr. Peek to do anything unlawful,” Niles said Tuesday. “He was contacted to get some advice and provided some advice to someone he had met. He gained nothing from the situation. He had nothing to do with the straw donors.”

Peek was not present for the hearing, an arrangement that was approved by Drysdale, Niles said.

“He’s ready to get back to his life. It’s been difficult,” Niles said.

Richard Bamberger, a spokesman for Peek, said Peek worked for New York State under Gov. Mario Cuomo and for three governors in Florida including Jeb Bush.

Niles said his New York State service involved work in economic development and minority and women-owned business development. In Florida, he worked with the Black Business Investment Board.

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