Federal investigators are currently scrutinizing Frank Carone, a well-known Brooklyn attorney and key adviser to former Mayor Eric Adams. Sources claim that the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York and the FBI are leading an investigation into Carone's business transactions, as reported by NBC New York and the Brooklyn Eagle. Despite the ongoing scrutiny, which has included subpoenaed clients of Carone's consulting firm since May 2024, no formal charges have been pressed against the political strategist.
The specifics of the investigation have yet to fully be disclosed, but the focus appears to closely examine various real estate and business deals tied to Carone's firm, Oaktree Solutions. According to a statement Carone gave to the Brooklyn Eagle, he outright denies any wrongdoing and has suggested that the accusations might stem from vendettas against his professional ascent and are possibly tainted by ethnic prejudice against Italian Americans.
Not only did Carone serve as chief of staff during Adams' tenure as mayor, but he also took reigns to chair Adams' 2021 and 2025 mayoral campaigns. After his stint at City Hall, Carone ventured to establish a profitable consulting business, which has now seemingly become a centerpiece of the federal probe. Besides Carone, other members of the former Adams administration, such as Ingrid Lewis Martin, face their own set of allegations in state courts related to possible corruption and bribery.
Yet, as the clouds of inquiry gather, Carone's staunch defense remains relentless. "Baseless" was the term he used to describe any potential accusations thrown his way in a post on social media that came after the New York Times' coverage of the investigation. He argued that the scrutiny was due simply to his political affiliations and success, and he has communicated that he knows nothing about a federal investigation, as he told NBC New York. Law enforcement agencies involved, such as the Brooklyn U.S. attorney's office, FBI, and IRS Criminal Investigation, have maintained their silence, declining to provide comments on the matter at hand.
