Report: Feds subpoena Brooklyn church in probe involving former Adams chief of staff

September 23, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

Frank Carone (left, Photo: Caroline Ourso) and Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello (right, Brooklyn Eagle photo by Robert Abruzzese).

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Federal investigators are looking into potential financial and business dealings between Frank Carone, the former chief of staff to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, and Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello, a prominent figure in the Brooklyn Diocese, sources familiar with the matter told News 4.

A subpoena was issued to a Brooklyn church requesting information on possible transactions between Carone, the former president of the Brooklyn Bar Association who now runs the consulting firm Oaktree Solutions, and Gigantiello, who has long been associated with charitable fundraising within the diocese.

Carone, who left the mayor’s office after less than a year, denied knowledge of any criminal investigation and told News 4 that he is unaware of any inquiry involving him or the monsignor. Gigantiello, who has been friends with Carone for decades, declined to comment.

Another past president of the BBA, Arthur Aidala, spoke with News 4 and explained that as far as he knows, Gigantiello is not the target of any federal, state or city investigation. The Brooklyn Diocese also confirmed its commitment to fully cooperating with law enforcement.

Gigantiello, known for his charitable efforts and public profile, has made headlines for his love of cooking, notably manufacturing a line of pasta sauce called “A Taste of Heaven,” the proceeds of which reportedly go to charity.

Carone, meanwhile, has faced scrutiny from city officials who have questioned whether he has leveraged his City Hall connections to build his business and raise funds for Mayor Adams’ re-election campaign.

The investigation into Carone and Gigantiello comes amid broader federal probes into City Hall, the NYPD and Mayor Adams’ past campaign fundraising. These ongoing investigations have already led to the resignation of the NYPD commissioner and the seizure of several top mayoral aides’ phones by the FBI.

While no charges have been filed, Carone and the monsignor are now facing additional scrutiny from federal prosecutors in a separate matter. Federal agencies, including the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, declined to comment.