TL/DR –
FBI agents have searched two properties owned by Winnie Greco, a close aide to New York Mayor Eric Adams, as part of an investigation conducted with prosecutors from the U.S. attorney’s office in Brooklyn. It is unclear what the investigation’s focus is or whether it is related to Adams, who has been the subject of a separate criminal inquiry. Greco, who has close ties to the Chinese community in New York City, was a prominent fund-raiser for Adams during his mayoral campaign and currently serves as the mayor’s director of Asian affairs.
F.B.I. Searches Properties of an Aide to New York Mayor Eric Adams
On Thursday, F.B.I. agents searched two houses owned by Winnie Greco, a close aide to New York Mayor Eric Adams, as part of an ongoing investigation by U.S. attorney’s office in Brooklyn. An additional search warrant was executed at the New World Mall in Flushing, Queens where Mr. Adams is a frequent visitor, the details of the investigation remain undisclosed.
Background of Winnie Greco
Ms. Greco, a significant fundraiser for Mr. Adams and his mayoral campaign, has a tight connection with the Chinese community in NYC. She played a crucial role in a project to install an arch, a gift from Beijing, in Brooklyn’s Sunset Park neighborhood. Following his election, Mr. Adams appointed Greco as the mayor’s director of Asian affairs. Her current legal representation remains unknown.
F.B.I. Statement
Confirming the searches, an F.B.I. spokesperson revealed the bureau was conducting law enforcement activities near Ms. Greco’s houses and the aforementioned mall. The U.S. attorney’s office in Brooklyn, known for its high-profile cases concerning Chinese government’s activities in the U.S., declined to comment.
Mayor’s Office Response
Fabien Levy, a spokesman for Mr. Adams, said Ms. Greco was on leave from her City Hall job and that Mr. Adams had not been accused of any wrongdoing. “Our administration will always follow the law, and we expect all our employees to adhere to the strictest ethical guidelines,” Levy stated.
The searches of Ms. Greco’s properties occurred months after the homes of other associates of Mr. Adams were raided as part of a public corruption investigation. That separate federal criminal inquiry focuses on whether Mr. Adams’s 2021 mayoral campaign conspired with the Turkish government to receive illegal foreign donations.
Ms. Greco’s Connection to Chinese Community
Ms. Greco, a regular at Chinese cultural events, maintains a strong relationship with leaders at the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of New York. She played a crucial role in Mr. Adams’ election campaign, helping with fundraising and outreach to Asian American communities. This relationship has been ongoing for at least a decade, when Mr. Adams named her an “honorary ambassador” to the Chinese community.
However, an issue arose when a volunteer for Mr. Adams’s 2021 campaign accused Ms. Greco of asking him to work for free on home renovations to secure a job in the mayor’s administration. The New York City Department of Investigation confirmed it had opened an inquiry related to Ms. Greco after the mayor’s office forwarded the complaint.
Mayor’s Recent Relationship with Ms. Greco
In recent months, Mr. Adams has distanced himself from Ms. Greco. He confirmed in November that she still worked for the city and that he greeted her in Mandarin when he saw her, but did not discuss the ongoing investigation with her.
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