In a recent revelation from the Brooklyn Diocese, Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello was demoted from administrative duties at Our Lady of Mount Carmel–Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Williamsburg. An internal investigation uncovered that Gigantiello had transferred close to $2 million of church money to a law firm and entities related to Frank Carone, former chief of staff to Mayor Eric Adams. The inquiry, led by Alvarez & Marsal and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, found that these funds were shifted without the necessary approval from the diocese, as reported by NBC New York.
Gigantiello, who once held a key fundraising position in the diocese before being removed last year, made the contentious transfers between 2019 and 2021. According to a statement obtained by THE CITY, he sent $1 million to Abrams Fensterman, a law firm formerly linked to Carone. These actions were taken without documenting or following the diocesan rule that mandates approval from the bishop for any transfer above $30,000.
Gigantiello defended the transactions as investments that were legal and beneficial, claiming they "yielded big returns" for his parish. Despite being served a subpoena by the Eastern District of New York to discuss these loans, he maintained he cooperated and that the matter seemed to be concluded with his witness testimony. "I got a subpoena to be a witness for the loan that was made, and I met with them and they thanked me for cooperating with them and that was it," Gigantiello told THE CITY.
Additional findings from the review indicated further unauthorized financial activities. According to NBC New York, Gigantiello allegedly misused a church credit card for personal expenses and instructed someone to secretly record a conversation with Deacon Dean Dobbins without his consent. Dobbins has been placed on administrative leave for using "offensive and racist language" during the recorded conversation. Gigantiello, however, maintains his pastoral role and claims he is being targeted out of jealousy over his fundraising success. He told THE CITY, "There’s no change, I’m the pastor of the parish and I’m in charge of the spiritual welfare of the parishioners."
This situation comes amidst several other federal investigations into City Hall, the NYPD, and past fundraising activities linked to Adams. While the fallouts have involved the resignation of the NYPD commissioner and seizures of mayoral aides' phones, Gigantiello, Carone, and Dobbins have yet to be charged with criminal actions. The church's dealings with these individuals continue to be probed in light of the federal corruption scandal that has already stirred considerable tumult within the city's governance and the diocese.
