Federal bribery charges have been filed against Frank Carone, the former chief of staff to ex-New York Mayor Eric Adams. Carone is accused of accepting $120,000 in bribes to steer a contract for a migrant shelter to a Queens hotel. Three other individuals, including Carone's brother, were also indicted in connection with the scheme. All defendants have pleaded not guilty.
These charges are the latest in a string of corruption probes that have ensnared Adams' administration and close associates. Even though Adams himself no longer holds public office and is not facing charges in this particular case, the investigations into his inner circle persist.
Another close ally of Adams, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, is currently fighting separate bribery charges. These allegations include claims that she exchanged political favors for cash, diamond earrings, and a television show role.
Adams himself was previously indicted on bribery charges in 2024, accused of accepting illegal campaign contributions from Turkish officials in exchange for political favors. He denied wrongdoing, and those charges were later dropped. The indictment alleged that Adams allowed Turkish officials and businesspeople to influence him through illegal campaign contributions and discounted overseas trips, and that he facilitated the expedited opening of Turkey's diplomatic building in New York in return.
Adams, a Democrat, had denied any wrongdoing and suggested, without evidence, that the Biden administration had politically targeted his administration due to his criticism of its immigration policies. However, shortly after Donald Trump returned to the White House in early 2025, the Justice Department ordered Manhattan federal prosecutors to drop the case, citing that it hindered the mayor's ability to aid Trump's immigration crackdown.
The investigation into Adams' conduct had significantly impacted his efforts to seek reelection. He withdrew from the Democratic primary and ran as an independent but ultimately ended his campaign early.
Lewis-Martin, who as former chief adviser had significant access to Adams, was indicted in 2024. Prosecutors alleged she traded her influence for bribes exceeding $100,000 from individuals with business before the city. She has denied any wrongdoing. In one instance cited by prosecutors, Lewis-Martin allegedly agreed to help quash a planned bike lane near a Brooklyn soundstage in exchange for perks, including a potential role on the TV drama "Blue Bloods." In a separate scheme, she is accused of accepting diamond earrings and cash from two real estate developers and subsequently assisting in expediting their projects, at times bypassing city regulators' safety concerns.
Her attorney, Arthur Aidala, who is also representing Carone, stated that Lewis-Martin was merely assisting constituents in navigating city bureaucracy.
The case against Lewis-Martin was brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, with a hearing scheduled. Several individuals who departed Adams' administration amid scandal, including those whose devices were seized and homes searched by federal agents, have not faced charges. These individuals include an adviser to the Chinese community, the former police commissioner's twin brother, and Adams' former schools chancellor and deputy mayor, whose third brother operated a consulting firm connecting clients with city officials. All have denied wrongdoing.
Federal authorities have not disclosed the specifics of their searches or whether investigations remain active. Following the dismissal of charges against Adams, prosecutors have continued to pursue cases against some individuals involved in the alleged scheme. A Brooklyn real estate magnate received a one-year probation sentence last summer after pleading guilty to funneling illegal donations to Adams' 2021 campaign in collaboration with a Turkish government official. In November, an Adams aide who acted as a liaison to the city's Muslim communities was sentenced to three years of probation for soliciting illegal campaign funds. During that sentencing, Judge Dale Ho, who also presided over Adams' dismissed case, remarked on the "notable absence here of the person at the apex of the pyramid."