Mayor Adams Indicted, FBI Investigates NYPD Officers for Bribery Allegations.
On the same day Mayor Eric Adams was indicted on wire fraud and bribery charges, two FBI agents probing the New York Police Department (NYPD) visited the downtown Manhattan office building where two top mayoral advisors work. The feds were reportedly “looking for records” at the Verizon Building located at 375 Pearl Street. NYPD Deputy Mayor Phil Banks and aide Timothy Pearson, both former cops, have their offices on the 16th floor of this building which also houses a records room, legal and budget offices.
The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York declined to comment on whether the agents were executing a search warrant or seizing records. Sources familiar with the investigation stated that the FBI is also looking into whether bribes were paid for NYPD promotions and transfers, and both Pearson and Banks have been involved in promoting and transferring officers according to multiple police sources.
Promotions and transfers within the NYPD are referred to as “contracts” and are known to sometimes involve preferential treatment for friends and family. The visit occurred amidst multiple federal probes into the Adams administration, including investigations into bribery and wire fraud allegations against Mayor Eric Adams.
The feds have seized phones from several NYPD officials who worked closely with Police Commissioner Edward Caban, who resigned on September 12th following pressure from City Hall after a federal raid on his Rockland County home. No arrests or charges have been made so far in the Police Department.
In addition to these investigations, the NYPD’s Technical Assistance Response Unit began receiving regular requests from brass at One Police Plaza to sweep their offices for bugs earlier this year. Federal agents served the NYPD with a preservation letter on September 6th, ordering them not to destroy any electronic files as they looked for evidence of alleged influence peddling by Caban’s brother, James, at Big Apple nightclubs.
The investigation into the Adams administration continues, and no charges have been filed against Pearson, Banks, or the Cabans. Mayor Adams appointed Police Commissioner Thomas Donlon on September 13th, who had his home searched by the feds on September 21st; he stated that they seized materials unrelated to his work with the NYPD and has not commented on the ongoing probe.
