Former Mayor Eric Adams’ ex-chief of staff, Frank Carone, was arrested early Wednesday morning in connection to a bribery scheme that goes back to his time in city government, a law enforcement source told NY1. 

Carone’s brother, Anthony, was also arrested, according to the source.

What You Need To Know

Former Mayor Eric Adams’ ex-chief of staff, Frank Carone, was arrested early Wednesday morning in connection to a bribery scheme that goes back to his time in city government, a law enforcement source told NY1

Carone has been one of Adams’ closest advisers, and helped run his failed reelection campaign last year

Carone was the former mayor’s chief of staff for his first year in office in 2022, but left quickly to start his own consulting and lobbying firm

Details on the charges are still unclear, and an indictment out of the Eastern District of New York is expected to be unsealed later on Wednesday.

Alongside the Carones, two others were arrested: Yan Po Zhu, who owns a hotel in Queens, and Crystal Chen, who works for Zhu.

The charges are related to a city contract, sources say.

Frank Carone has been one of Adams’ closest advisers, and helped run his failed reelection campaign last year

Carone was the former mayor’s chief of staff for his first year in office in 2022, but left quickly to start his own consulting and lobbying firm, Oaktree Solutions.

A prominent figure in New York politics, Carone has longstanding ties with the Brooklyn Democratic Party, and has often been the subject of intrigue and investigation. 

Reports of a federal investigation into his business dealings came out earlier this year, after years of speculation he was under scrutiny by federal prosecutors.

This story is developing and will be updated throughout the course of the day.