A widening corruption investigation in New York City took a dramatic turn Wednesday morning when Frank Carone, former chief of staff to Mayor Eric Adams, was taken into custody alongside his brother, according to sources familiar with the matter who spoke to Nexstar’s WPIX.
The arrests were reportedly tied to allegations involving corruption and bribery, adding another chapter to a series of legal and ethical controversies that have surrounded some of the most prominent figures connected to City Hall and the New York Police Department in recent years.
According to the sources, federal authorities also carried out a series of high-profile raids on Wednesday. The FBI executed searches at the residences of former NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, former NYPD Assistant Chief James McCarthy, and former NYPD Deputy Commissioner Tarik Sheppard.
Officials have not publicly detailed the specific allegations behind the searches, but the coordinated actions signal a significant criminal investigation involving both former and current members of the department.
Following news of Carone’s arrest, Todd Shapiro, a spokesperson for former Mayor Eric Adams, released a statement defending Carone’s long record of work in New York.
“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,” Shapiro said. “This is an ongoing legal matter, and my prayers are with his family.”
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch also addressed the law enforcement activity in a statement posted to X.
“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,” Tisch wrote.
She added that the investigation remains active and concerns conduct involving both former and current members of the NYPD.
The latest developments also bring renewed attention to a previous investigation involving Carone.
In 2024, authorities examined possible dealings between Carone and Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello, a priest serving at a church in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The matter drew scrutiny after the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn disclosed concerns about financial transactions involving parish funds.
Bishop Robert Brennan said Gigantiello was relieved of “any pastoral oversight or governance role” at the church. According to Brennan, the monsignor transferred approximately $1.9 million in parish funds between 2019 and 2021 into bank accounts affiliated with Frank Carone.
The bishop stated that the transfers were made without prior approval and lacked proper documentation, putting them at odds with diocesan investment policies and procedures.
Brennan said Carone’s law firm later repaid $1 million of the money along with roughly 9 percent interest. The bishop also noted that Gigantiello sought early repayment of the remaining balance, though without the substantial interest outlined in the loan agreements.
The arrests arrive against a backdrop of multiple corruption allegations involving individuals connected to the Adams administration.
Former top aide Ingrid Lewis-Martin has been accused of trading political favors for cash, home renovations, and a television speaking role. Another former aide, Winnie Greco, allegedly handed a reporter from THE CITY a potato chip bag filled with cash in August 2025.
Mayor Adams himself also faced a federal bribery case, though that case was dismissed in 2025.
With arrests, raids, and multiple investigations now intersecting, the latest developments are likely to intensify scrutiny of the political and law enforcement networks that have played a major role in governing America’s largest city.
