Key facts
- Frank Carone, former chief of staff to New York Mayor Eric Adams, has been arrested on federal charges.
- Carone is accused of accepting $120,000 in bribes to steer a multimillion-dollar migrant shelter contract.
- Three other individuals, including Carone's brother, were also indicted.
- Ingrid Lewis-Martin, another close ally of Adams, faces separate bribery charges.
- Eric Adams himself was indicted on bribery charges in 2024, but the case was later dropped.
Frank Carone, a top aide to former New York Mayor Eric Adams, has been arrested on federal charges alleging he accepted $120,000 in bribes to steer a multimillion-dollar migrant shelter contract to a Queens hotel. Three other individuals, including Carone's brother, were also indicted and have pleaded not guilty.
Carone's arrest is the latest development in a series of corruption probes that have affected Adams' administration. Ingrid Lewis-Martin, another close ally of Adams, is currently fighting separate bribery charges, which include allegations of exchanging political favors for cash and other perks. Eric Adams himself was indicted on bribery charges in 2024, accused of accepting illegal campaign contributions from Turkish officials in exchange for political favors, but those charges were later dropped.
Prosecutors alleged that Lewis-Martin traded her influence for bribes exceeding $100,000, including diamond earrings and a promised role on the TV show "Blue Bloods." Her attorney, Arthur Aidala, who also represents Carone, stated that she was merely helping constituents navigate city bureaucracy.
Several other associates of Adams' administration resigned under scrutiny or faced investigations but were not charged. Some low-level associates have pleaded guilty to charges related to illegal campaign funds, including a real estate magnate sentenced to probation for funneling illegal donations to Adams' 2021 campaign.