Who in Eric Adams’ orbit has been searched and subpoenaed by the feds?

Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted by federal prosecutors on five counts of bribery, wire fraud and soliciting illegal foreign donations. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. But federal law enforcement scrutiny isn’t only trained on him. Sprawling federal investigations have now touched over a dozen current and former members of his administration. At least eight members of his administration and inner circle were subject to raids or device seizures in September alone. 

On Sept. 4, 2024 federal prosecutors raided the homes of and seized devices from several top administration officials – and some of their family members. On Sept. 20, a top official working on migrant issues was served a subpoena. Investigators are also reportedly looking at potential dealings between top adviser and former chief of staff Frank Carone and a Catholic monsignor in Brooklyn. Even the interim police commissioner who was brought in to replace the commissioner who stepped down following a raid has now himself been raided by the feds. Chief adviser to the mayor Ingrid Lewis-Martin didn’t escape scrutiny despite being in Japan for a lengthy and eyebrow-raising vacation. Investigators from both the Southern District of New York and the Manhattan District Attorney’s office intercepted her on Sep. 27 at John F. Kennedy International Airport to serve her a subpoena and seize her cellphone. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office at that time also seized the cell phone of former state Sen. Jesse Hamilton, who works for a major city agency and who was traveling with Lewis-Martin.

Adams is no longer the only official facing charges. On Oct. 8, senior liaison to the Muslim community Mohamed Bahi was arrested on charges of witness tampering and destruction of evidence. Bahi resigned from his position in City Hall the day before his arrest.

The exact scope of the now multiple investigations into members of the Adams administration remains unclear, but reports suggest federal prosecutors are scrutinizing the awarding of city contracts and whether family members of administration officials benefited from their City Hall connections, among other probes.

So far, only Adams and Bahi have been charged with crimes in the investigations, but multiple high-level aides have resigned, including two deputy mayors, former Police Commissioner Edward Caban and former Chief Counsel Lisa Zornberg. Schools Chancellor David Banks and Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan both gave notice that they would step down at the end of the year, and Banks’ departure will now come sooner than that.

Adams has repeatedly said that he instructs his staff to follow the law. 

These are the current and former members of Adams’ administration and campaign who have been searched, subpoenaed or otherwise linked to various law enforcement investigations, according to multiple reports. This post was updated on Oct. 9, 2024.

Mayor Eric Adams

Since at least fall 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York has been investigating Mayor Eric Adams’ 2021 campaign fundraising, including probing whether the campaign conspired with Turkish officials to receive illegal foreign donations. On Sept. 26, the Southern District unveiled a five-count indictment against Adams, alleging that he solicited and accepted illegal foreign donations and other benefits including gifted travel, and took official government action on behalf of Turkish benefactors, including at least one Turkish government official. Adams pleaded not guilty.

In one instance laid out in the indictment, prosecutors allege that Adams leaned on the Fire Department to fast-track the opening of a new Turkish consulate building in Manhattan in 2021, despite concerns about fire safety systems in the building. They allege that Adams did so and took other action in repayment of favors from a Turkish government official and other Turkish nationals, including treating him to luxury flights around the world and putting him up in expensive hotels, as well as organizing illegal straw donor campaigns for him.

The Southern District’s investigation has been public since last November. On Nov. 3, 2023, Adams was approached by FBI agents who entered his car with him, asking his security detail to step aside, before seizing two cell phones and an iPad, according to a New York Times report. In July 2024, Adams, City Hall and his campaign received grand jury subpoenas. The subpoenas sought text messages, documents and other communications, according to the Times. The feds also seized the mayor’s phone on the morning of Sept. 26, the day he was indicted. 

Brianna Suggs, fundraiser and campaign consultant

The federal investigation into Adams’ campaign fundraising first became public last fall, when news broke that federal agents had searched the home of the mayor’s chief fundraiser, Brianna Suggs. On Nov. 2, 2023, agents raided Suggs’ Brooklyn home, seizing several electronic devices, documents, a folder labeled “Eric Adams” and more evidence, the Times reported. At the time, Adams was scheduled to have several meetings in Washington D.C. but the raid caused him to cancel them to return home. Adams said later in November that Suggs was no longer fundraising for his 2025 reelection campaign but remained on his campaign team in an unspecified role. Suggs’ consulting company has billed at least $40,000 worth of work to the campaign since the raid, according to the most recent available campaign finance report. The indictment against Adams does not name Suggs or any other staffers, but it describes actions taken by the “lead fundraiser” in Adams’ 2021 campaign who matches Suggs’ description. 

Rana Abbasova, former director of protocol in Mayor's Office for International Affairs 

Rana Abbasova, who worked in the Brooklyn borough president’s office and served as a liaison to the Turkish community, also reportedly had her home in New Jersey raided by federal agents on Nov. 2, 2023. The New York Post reported that Abbasova was believed by Adams’ team to have acted improperly and was placed on leave. The Times reported earlier this spring that Abbasova had turned on Adams and was cooperating with investigators. The indictment against Adams does not name Abbasova but describes the actions of a staffer for Adams who served as a “liaison to Eastern Europe Muslim countries,” which matches her job description. In early October 2024, it was reported that Abbasova was fired from her position.

Cenk Öcal, a member of Adams’ transition team and a former executive at Turkish Airlines, also had his home in New Jersey raided on Nov. 2, 2023.

Winnie Greco, former special adviser to the mayor and director of Asian affairs

City Hall’s former Director of Asian Affairs Winnie Greco, also a longtime volunteer for Adams’ campaigns, has attracted attention from both federal authorities and the city’s own Department of Investigation. In the latter case, the DOI is looking at whether Greco used her position for her personal benefit, following reporting by The City in November 2023 that she pressured a prospective city employee, who was later hired by the city, to do work on her own home. The City also reported that Greco pressured donors to give thousands of dollars to her nonprofit organization in exchange for access to the mayor. 

Separately, in February 2024, FBI agents raided two properties owned by Greco in the Bronx as well as the New World Mall in Queens, where The City also reported on evidence of potentially illegal straw donations to Adams’ campaign. Greco was on sick leave but returned to work and received a raise, The City reported in May. Greco resigned from her role in City Hall on Oct. 7, 2024.

Phil Banks, former deputy mayor for public safety

Adams’ former deputy mayor for public safety had already been involved in a corruption scandal – the former NYPD chief of department was named an unindicted co-conspirator in a bribery case in 2018 and denied wrongdoing. But Phil Banks has also joined the ranks of current Adams administration officials who have been raided by federal authorities. The City first reported that Banks and several other top administration officials had their homes raided and phones seized on Sept. 4. Though the scope of the investigation is unclear, the Times reported that the raids were not related to the investigation into Adams’ 2021 campaign fundraising and Turkish ties. City Hall confirmed on Oct. 7, 2024 that Banks resigned.

David Banks, outgoing New York City Schools chancellor

Schools Chancellor David Banks – brother of Phil – also had his home raided as part of the Sept. 4 action.

A third Banks brother – Terence Banks, a consultant and former MTA official – also had his home searched and phone seized, the Times reported.

Sheena Wright, former first deputy mayor

Adams’ first deputy mayor Sheena Wright shares a home with her partner David Banks, and also had her cell phone seized on Sept. 4, the Times reported. Wright stepped down and was replaced by fellow Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer on Oct. 8, 2024.

Tim Pearson, former senior adviser

Tim Pearson, a former NYPD inspector and then-senior adviser to Adams, also had cell phones subpoenaed on Sept. 4, the Post reported.

Pearson had already been under investigation by the city Department of Investigation. His role is under the city’s Economic Development Corporation and its full scope remains unclear, but it’s reported to include influence over NYPD and public safety decisions, as well as overseeing security at migrant shelters. In October 2023, Pearson allegedly got into a physical altercation with security guards at a Midtown shelter. Pearson is also named in several lawsuits alleging sexual harassment and retaliation – allegations his lawyer has denied. On Sept. 30, Pearson resigned. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has reportedly put pressure on Adams to clean house at City Hall, called Pearson’s departure a “good first step.”

Edward Caban, former police commissioner

Even the head of the New York City Police Department attracted law enforcement’s attention. Then-Police Commissioner Edward Caban received a visit from federal authorities on Sept. 4, NY1 reported, and had his phone seized.

Though the full scope of what authorities have sought from those searched is unclear, the Post reported that they’re looking at whether Eddie Caban’s twin brother James – who City & State previously reported on – profited by trading on influence at the NYPD in selling consulting services to nightclubs. James also had his phone seized, NBC New York reported.

Caban resigned on Sept. 12, 2024. 

Eric Ulrich, former Department of Buildings commissioner

In a separate investigation, former Department of Buildings commissioner and former City Council member Eric Ulrich was indicted on 16 felony charges in September 2023, with counts including conspiracy and bribe-taking. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office detailed allegations of Ulrich using his official position for his personal and monetary gain. Ulrich has pleaded not guilty. He resigned from his position shortly after news broke in November 2022 that investigators were looking into potential ties to illegal gambling.

Frank Carone, former chief of staff

Federal investigators are scrutinizing possible business dealings between a Brooklyn church and former City Hall chief of staff – and current reelection campaign fixture – Frank Carone, NBC New York first reported. A subpoena issued to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church requested information about dealings between Carone and Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello, a close friend of Carone’s. Neither has been accused of wrongdoing.

Molly Schaeffer, director of the Office of Asylum Seeker Operations

On Sept. 20, New York City’s Office of Asylum Seeker Operations Director Molly Schaeffer was served a subpoena, the Associated Press first reported. Gothamist later reported that agents showed up at Schaeffer’s parents’ apartment building, though Schaeffer denied that they had searched the apartment. It’s unclear what information prosecutors may be seeking, and Schaeffer has not been accused of wrongdoing. The Post reported that the subpoena is related to the probe into Pearson, whose responsibilities include dealing with contracts for migrant services. 

Schaeffer previously worked under former Mayor Bill de Blasio and joined the Adams administration as a deputy chief of staff. She’s led the city’s new asylum-seeker office since March 2023, as the influx of migrants to the city accelerated.

Tom Donlon, interim NYPD Commissioner

Barely a week into the job, the man who was named to replace former Police Commissioner Edward Caban had his own residences raided by federal agents on Sept. 20, NBC New York first reported. Donlon confirmed the raids the following day, saying that the agents seized “materials that came into my possession approximately 20 years ago and are unrelated to my work with the New York City Police Department.” NBC New York reported that the searches concerned whether Donlon held onto materials from his former posts at the FBI and the state Department of Homeland Security. Donlon has not been accused of wrongdoing, and no charges have been filed. 

Ingrid Lewis-Martin, chief adviser to the mayor

Adams’ longtime friend and adviser Ingrid Lewis-Martin was met by investigators from both the Southern District of New York and the Manhattan District Attorney’s office on Sep. 27, 2024 at John F. Kennedy International Airport as she traveled home from a vacation in Japan, her attorney confirmed. “Ingrid Lewis-Martin has been served with a subpoena from the Southern District of New York and her phones were given to the New York County District Attorney’s Office. She will cooperate fully with any and all investigations and Ms. Lewis is not the target of any case of which we are aware,” Aidala said in a statement. While Lewis-Martin was traveling that day, investigators also conducted enforcement action at her Brooklyn residence, with plainclothes authorities carrying out several boxes, video from NY1 showed. It’s unclear what authorities are probing, and their connection with any of the other investigations into members of Adams’ inner circle.

Jesse Hamilton, deputy commissioner for real estate services in the Department of Citywide Administrative Services

The former state senator from Brooklyn was traveling home from Japan with Lewis-Martin when she was stopped by investigators with the Southern District and Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. The DA’s office also seized Hamilton’s cell phone at that time, though it’s not clear what investigators are looking at in regard to both Lewis-Martin and Hamilton, and it’s not clear if Hamilton is connected to any of the existing probes into the mayor’s inner circle. Neither person has been publicly accused of wrongdoing by authorities.

Mohamed Bahi, former senior liaison to the Muslim community

In a surprise development, Mohamed Bahi, who hadn’t previously been identified as someone under investigation in the mayor’s orbit, was arrested on Oct. 8 and charged with witness tampering and destruction of evidence in a criminal complaint unsealed by the Southern District of New York, joined by the FBI and the city Department of Investigation. Bahi, who resigned from City Hall on Oct. 7, 2024, the day before his arrest, had served as a senior liaison to the Muslim community in City Hall’s Community Affairs Unit since 2022, but also solicited donations for Adams’ mayoral campaign in 2020. The complaint alleges that Bahi organized a fundraiser for Adams and worked with an unidentified businessman to direct illegal straw donations to the campaign. Following a search at the businessman’s home and subpoenas issued to him and four of his employees, Bahi allegedly instructed them to lie to FBI investigators. Amid a raid at his own home on July 24, 2024, Bahi is accused of deleting the private messaging app Signal from his cell phone just before it was seized.

Ahsan Chughtai, former liaison to the Muslim community

Chughtai, who served as a special assistant and another liaison to the Muslim community, has also received law enforcement scrutiny and was visited by investigators last summer, The City reported. It’s unclear what investigators with the FBI and the city Department of Investigation sought from Chughtai. He was fired from City Hall in September 2024, the Daily News previously reported.