Frank Carone, who served as chief of staff to former New York City Mayor Eric Adams, was taken into custody early Wednesday morning, according to sources familiar with the operation. The arrest marks the latest development in an expanding corruption probe that has ensnared several former Adams aides and high-ranking NYPD officials.
Brother Also Arrested in Migrant Contract Probe
Sources say Carone and his brother were apprehended on corruption and bribery charges related to city contracts awarded during the migrant crisis. The arrests came as the FBI also raided the home of former NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, though details of that search remain unclear.
In a separate but concurrent investigation, law enforcement sources confirmed that NYPD and FBI agents executed search warrants at the residences of NYPD Assistant Chief James McCarthy and former Deputy Commissioner Tarik Sheppard. The NYPD has since replaced McCarthy with Chief Melissa Eger, a department spokesperson said.
Response from Adams Camp
Todd Shapiro, a spokesperson for former Mayor Adams, issued a statement following the arrests: “Frank Carone has dedicated decades of his life to public service, the legal profession, and helping countless individuals, businesses, and charitable organizations throughout New York. This is an ongoing legal matter, and my prayers are with his family.”
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch addressed the raids on social media, writing: “This morning, members of the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau and the FBI executed search warrants as part of a criminal investigation being pursued by the NYPD, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. The investigation is ongoing and concerns conduct by former and current members of the NYPD.”
Previous Scrutiny Over Church Funds
Carone had already been under investigation in 2024 for possible dealings with a priest at a Brooklyn church. Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello was relieved of “any pastoral oversight or governance role” at his Williamsburg church, according to Bishop Robert Brennan of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn.
Brennan revealed that between 2019 and 2021, Gigantiello transferred $1.9 million in parish funds to bank accounts linked to Carone, without proper authorization or documentation, violating diocesan investment policies. Carone’s law firm repaid $1 million of that amount, plus roughly 9% interest, but the bishop noted that Gigantiello requested early repayment for the remainder without the substantial interest originally stipulated.
Pattern of Allegations Against Adams Circle
This arrest is not an isolated incident. Former top aide Ingrid Lewis-Martin was accused of trading political favors for cash, home renovations, and a speaking role on a TV show. Another former aide, Winnie Greco, allegedly handed a reporter a potato chip bag stuffed with cash in August 2025. Adams himself faced federal bribery charges that were dismissed in 2025.
The widening probe underscores ongoing scrutiny of the Adams administration’s ties to business interests and contract awards. For context, similar political corruption cases have emerged in other cities, such as the Sioux Falls mayor race recount after a two-vote margin, though that case involved election integrity rather than bribery.
As investigations continue, the political fallout may echo broader warnings from strategists like Frank and Emanuel, who caution Democrats to avoid culture war distractions ahead of midterms. For now, all eyes remain on the Southern District of New York as it builds its case.
