Federal Probe Expands Beyond Former Mayor Adams to Top aide
Table of Contents
Updated November 17, 2024, 1:48 PM ET
- Prosecutors in Brooklyn are investigating Frank Carone’s business activities.
- Carone chaired Adams’ mayoral campaigns and served as his chief of staff.
- The scope of the investigation remains unclear, with no charges filed to date.
- Othre members of the former Adams governance are also under scrutiny.
A federal criminal investigation is underway into the business dealings of Frank Carone, a prominent attorney and longtime advisor to former New york City Mayor Eric Adams. The probe, led by prosecutors in the Brooklyn U.S. attorney’s office, comes even as past criminal charges against Adams himself have been dropped by federal authorities.
Carone’s Role in Adams’ Rise and Departure
Carone, a well-connected Brooklyn democratic power broker, was instrumental in Adams’ ascent to City Hall and remained a key figure throughout his four-year term.He chaired both Adams’ 2021 and 2025 mayoral campaigns and later served as the mayor’s chief of staff for a year. Following his departure from City Hall, Carone established a lucrative consulting business.
He continued to be involved in adams’ post-mayoral career, reportedly including a controversial initiative involving a city-branded cryptocurrency sale. The specifics of his involvement and the nature of the investigation remain unclear.
Carone Denies Knowledge of Investigation
When contacted by reporters on Friday, Carone stated he was unaware of any federal investigation targeting him. He asserted that he had not been contacted by law enforcement officials and was not aware of any associates being questioned in connection with a probe into his affairs.
On Saturday, after the investigation was first reported by The New York times, Carone took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to dismiss any potential accusations as “baseless.” He suggested the scrutiny stemmed from his political affiliations, success, and what he described as “stereotypical assumptions” based on his background as “an Italian American who grew up in the streets of Canarsie and to this day still speaks with a full Brooklyn accent.”
Other Agencies Decline to Comment
Several law enforcement agencies, including the Eastern District of New York (EDNY), the FBI, the Department of Investigation (DOI), and IRS Criminal Investigation, declined to comment on the matter.
Past Scrutiny and Ongoing Investigations
No charges have been filed against Carone. the FBI and U.S.Attorney’s offices also declined to provide any comment. Carone has faced prior scrutiny, including a federal investigation-previously reported-into his financial connections to a Williamsburg monsignor who allegedly loaned parish funds to Carone without the knowledge of the Brooklyn Diocese.Carone maintained that he had simply made an investment in parish money, yielding a considerable return.
Beyond the Carone investigation, other former members of the Adams administration are facing ongoing scrutiny regarding a range of issues. Sources familiar with the matter indicate questions are being raised about commercial real estate leases arranged through the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, and also allegations that Ingrid Lewis Martin, another top advisor to Adams, may have accepted bribes in exchange for government favors. Lewis Martin has pleaded not guilty and her case is currently ongoing in state court.
