NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� A former chief of staff to ex-New York Mayor was arrested Wednesday in a federal bribery case about a lucrative migrant shelter contract, the latest sign that prosecutors continue to scrutinize Adams’ inner circle months after the scandal-bruised Democrat left office.
The charges against Frank Carone are the latest in a leveled at the former mayor 鈥� who was himself on bribery and other charges that were later 鈥� and key aides. Separately, federal authorities searched the homes of current and former New York Police Department leaders Wednesday in connection with a different bribery investigation.
Adams was not accused of wrongdoing in Carone鈥檚 indictment. It alleges the ex-chief of staff exploited his position to get more than $100,000 in payoffs for steering a migrant shelter contract to a hotel that social service officials had deemed unsuitable.
鈥淔rank Carone was entrusted to run our city government and instead put his own wealth and status above duty,鈥� Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Winik told a court.
Carone and his brother, Anthony Carone; hotel owner Yan Po Zhu, and hotel employee Crystal Chen pleaded not guilty to various charges. The brothers sat across from each other at a defense table, where Anthony Carone rubbed his face and Frank Carone appeared to read along during the proceedings.
Frank Carone鈥檚 lawyer, Arthur Aidala, said outside court that the case was based on 鈥渁ssumption after assumption after assumption.鈥�
鈥淭here is not one fact that indicates Frank Carone did anything specific to influence anything in our government,鈥� Aidala said. The other defendants and their attorneys declined to comment.
Frank Carone and the Sabrina Carpenter church video
Carone, a former Brooklyn Democratic Party lawyer and longtime political power broker, is widely credited as one of the architects of Adams鈥� political rise. He also drew attention for his who let pop star Sabrina Carpenter film in a church.
Federal investigators later subpoenaed the church. 鈥淭hey found nothing,鈥� Aidala said Wednesday, contending that the government first targeted Carone, then looked for a case.
Carone played a key role in Adams鈥� 2021 mayoral campaign, was chief of staff in 2022, then left and formed a political consulting firm.
He 鈥渄edicated decades of his life to public service, the legal profession and helping countless individuals, businesses, and charitable organizations throughout New York,鈥� Adams spokesperson Todd Shapiro said in a statement.
Indictment focuses on how the hotel became a shelter
Starting in 2022, the city amid an influx of migrants. Zhu’s hotel got $6.8 million to shelter some of the new arrivals, though the city鈥檚 Social Services Department had repeatedly rejected the facility, which was small and in a Queens neighborhood where residents objected to more shelters, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors said in court papers that Frank Carone accepted around $120,000 in bribes from Zhu and Chen to intercede on the hotel’s behalf. The money was passed through Anthony Carone鈥檚 law firm, according to the indictment.
In a September 2022 text message, Zhu asked Frank Carone for help getting the hotel an immediate one-year contract, according to the indictment. It said Carone replied by asking for the address, and Zhu gave it, adding: 鈥淭hank you my big guy.鈥�
In December 2023, Zhu texted Carone: 鈥淚 asked my partners to pay you for a year,鈥� according to the document. Carone, who is also charged with obstruction of justice, deleted the message after learning he was under investigation, prosecutors said.
Zhu 鈥渋s anxious to establish his innocence,鈥� lawyer Stephen Scaring said before the arraignments. All four defendants later were released on bond, ranging from $100,000 for Chen to $8 million for Zhu.
Police officials’ homes searched in unrelated probe
Separately Wednesday, the FBI and the NYPD executed search warrants at the homes of NYPD Chief of Manhattan South James McCarthy and former Deputy Commissioner Tarik Sheppard, and federal agents also searched former Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey’s home, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the searches. The official, who was not authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the searches were part of a bribery investigation that grew out of an inquiry into Maddrey.
There was no immediate response to an inquiry to Maddrey’s attorney. Attorney information for Sheppard and McCarthy was not immediately available.
There is no public indication of any arrests as part of those searches.
They were not related to Frank Carone’s arrest, according to another person familiar with the matter who also was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the case and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Once the NYPD’s highest-ranking uniformed officer, Maddrey in 2024 over allegations that he demanded sex from a subordinate in exchange for opportunities to earn extra pay. Maddrey of a quid pro quo.
Adams was in 2024 on charges of accepting illegal campaign contributions from Turkish officials and others in exchange for political favors. by federal Justice Department leaders who said it was distracting Adams from assisting in Republican President Donald Trump鈥檚 immigration crackdown. Adams has denied wrongdoing.
After skipping last year鈥檚 Democratic primary, Adams mounted but an independent campaign for a second term.
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Collins reported from Hartford, Connecticut, and Durkin Richer reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Jennifer Peltz in New York contributed to this report.
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