Full Breakdown
Former Mayor Eric Adams Adviser Frank Carone Arrested in Federal Bribery Probe
6/24/2026, 10:55:46 PM
The Arrest and Alleged Scheme
Federal agents detained Frank Carone, a 56-year-old Brooklyn attorney who served as Mayor Eric Adams’s chief of staff, his brother Anthony Carone, Queens hotel owner Yan Po Zhu, and hotel employee Crystal Chen on the morning of June 24, 2026. The arrests were made in New York’s Eastern District as part of a sealed indictment that prosecutors say involves a bribery scheme tied to a city contract for a homeless-shelter facility. The indictment remains sealed, and specific charges have not been disclosed.
Background: Carone’s Role in the Adams Administration
Carone was a longtime political mentor to Adams, helping the former state senator rise to borough president and then to mayor. He served as the mayor’s chief of staff during Adams’s first year in office and stepped down in December 2022 under a prior agreement. Earlier in 2024, the U.S. attorney’s office opened a federal corruption investigation into Carone, and the New York Times reported the probe in January 2026. Carone has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, characterizing accusations as “baseless” and attributing scrutiny to “stereotypical assumptions” about his Italian-American background.
Timeline of Recent Developments
- Early 2024: Federal investigation into Carone begins.
- January 2026: New York Times reports Carone is under federal investigation.
- June 24, 2026 (early morning): FBI arrests Carone, his brother, Zhu, and Chen; home searches conducted.
- June 24, 2026 (afternoon): Carone expected to appear in federal court in Brooklyn; indictment to be unsealed.
Data & Statistics
- Arrestees: Four individuals (Frank Carone, Anthony Carone, Yan Po Zhu, Crystal Chen).
- Positions: Carone – former chief of staff; Anthony Carone – attorney; Zhu – hotel owner; Chen – hotel employee.
Official Statements & Responses
The FBI and the U.S. attorney’s office declined to comment on the investigation. Carone’s attorneys, Russell Capone and Andrew Goldstein, also declined comment. Todd Shapiro, spokesperson for former Mayor Adams, issued a statement saying Carone “has dedicated decades of his life to public service, the legal profession, and helping countless individuals, businesses, and charitable organizations throughout New York,” and added that the matter is ongoing and the family is in his thoughts.
Criticism & Opposition
Carone has framed the allegations as politically motivated, stating that “baseless accusations are nothing new to me” and suggesting that “stereotypical assumptions” about his ethnicity and Brooklyn upbringing fuel the scrutiny. Observers note that the arrest occurs amid a broader series of corruption probes involving other former Adams aides, including Ingrid Lewis-Martin, who was previously charged for alleged contract steering.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the total number of individuals arrested: some reports mention a fourth person without naming them, while others list only the four named arrestees. The sealed indictment prevents confirmation of the exact nature of the alleged bribe, the contract details, and the monetary value involved.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Baseless accusations are nothing new to me,” — Frank Carone, former chief of staff to Mayor Eric Adams
- “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,” — Todd Shapiro, spokesperson for Eric Adams
- “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,” — Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch
- “an Italian American who grew up in the streets of Canarsie and to this day still speaks with a full Brooklyn accent.” — Frank Carone (statement to media)
What’s Next
The sealed indictment is expected to be unsealed later on June 24, after which Carone and the co-defendants will be formally charged and arraigned in Brooklyn federal court. Prosecutors may pursue additional charges if the investigation uncovers further evidence related to the homeless-shelter contract or other city dealings.
