She is the Zelig of Queens political scandals.
Lawyer and Democratic political operative Joan Flowers keeps popping up in misdeeds tied to Queens politicians and community leaders.
Flowers, already under federal scrutiny for her role in a shady Queens charity, represented the Rev. Floyd Flake and others in a deal to turn a nonprofit housing development owned by Flake's church into a for-profit venture, according to recent reports. Questions have been raised about the structure of the deal, and Flake's take.
Flowers filed paperwork in the deal in 2006 with then-Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. At the same time, she worked as a consultant to his successful campaign for governor.
Flowers has long been tied to, and done work for, prominent Democratic politicians, including Gov. Paterson, US Rep. Gregory Meeks and state Sen. Malcolm Smith.
A party activist described her as "an earnest, decent person that a lot of people have trusted over the years."
But he said she was often too eager to please and that "it hasn't served her well."
"I think that she's been coerced into doing questionable things by her so-called friends because she's such a nice person," he said.
Flowers, 62, a Jamaican immigrant, went to law school as an adult earning a degree from St. John's University in 1988.
In 1990, she teamed up with developer Darryl Greene, forming a company called Greene and Flowers.
The venture was described in 1994 by one of its partners, then-Assemblyman Clarence Norman Jr., as a commercial law firm and consultant. Norman was convicted in 2005 of falsifying business records and violating state election law and sent to prison.
Greene, too, got into trouble and pleaded guilty to defrauding city agencies of $500,000. It was through Greene that Flowers became associated with Smith, according to the Queens Democratic activist.
She was involved with Smith in a deal to develop land in Cambria Heights that is currently under federal probe. A couple sued Smith in 1998, claiming he took their deposit and they never got their promised home.
In 2000, Flowers drew up incorporation papers for the nonprofit New Direction Local Development Corp. It was started with the help of Smith and Meeks and for years its address was the same as Flower's law office.
The charity is under federal investigation after The Post revealed how its Hurricane Katrina relief fund failed to distribute most of the donations it took in to victims.
Flowers, who lives in Jamaica, Queens, did not return calls seeking comment.
US Rep. Gregory Meeks
Represents southeast Queens. Helped found New Direction Local Development Corp., which was incorporated by Flowers. Hired Flowers as campaign treasurer from 2001 to 2007. Board member with Flowers on Merrick Academy Charter School.
State Sen. Malcolm Smith
Represents southeast Queens. Helped to found the New Direction Local Development Corp., which was incorporated by Flowers in 2000. Officer with Flowers in 230th Street Associates development company. Hired Flowers as a campaign consultant. Put Flowers on the Senate payroll in 2009. Board member with Flowers on Merrick Academy Charter School.
Clarence Norman Jr.
Former state Assemblyman and partner in Greene and Flowers. Convicted in 2005 of falsifying business records and violating state election law and sent to prison.
Gov. David Paterson
Flowers was his campaign treasurer from 2006 to 2010.
Eliot Spitzer
Former governor for whom Flowers served as a consultant in the 2006 campaign.
The Rev. Floyd Flake
Former congressman and pastor of the Greater Allen AME Cathedral, where Flowers is a member. Flowers filed papers to turn a church nonprofit housing development into a for-profit entity.
Darryl Greene
Queens developer and business partner. Formed Greene and Flowers Associates PC in 1990. Board member with Flowers on Merrick Academy Charter School.
