Winnie Greco, a top aide to Mayor Eric Adams, is under federal investigation for allegedly using a Queens shopping mall employee to hide campaign donations to Hizzoner, law enforcement officials say. told the Friday Post.
The FBI on Thursday began raiding two homes owned by Greco on Gillespie Street in Pelham Bay, the Bronx, and an office at New World Mall in Flushing on suspicion of an illegal straw donation scheme, officials said. Stated.
The 61-year-old longtime mayoral adviser suffered a “medical episode” during the morning raid and was taken by ambulance to the hospital as federal agents removed boxes of files from at least one home. A city hall official said the incident had been discovered. post. The government did not immediately comment on her condition Friday.
The City Bureau of Investigation said in November after allegations of straw donations stemming from an event hosted by Greco, Adams’s main campaign fundraiser and currently his $100,000-a-year Asian affairs czar, surfaced. An investigation has begun. City reported.
Greco was heavily involved in organizing eight lucrative fundraising events held at New World Mall for Adams’ 2021 campaign. the outlet said.
She is already under investigation for allegedly illegally soliciting a $10,000 “donation” from a Chinese businessman to Adams’ campaign in order to attend an event at Gracie House, Hitzoner’s official residence. is recieving.
Additionally, Greco is being watched as potentially promising campaign volunteers jobs in the Adams administration if they work in Adams’ kitchen in early 2022.
She has not been charged in connection with any of the reported allegations.
Sources told the Post that the FBI is investigating whether mall employees were among the straw providers she may have used.
Greco is a well-known local figure in the business community in and around the mall, officials said.
A straw donor is someone whose name is knowingly or unknowingly used on campaign finance forms to illegally funnel cash to candidates in order to circumvent the law.
For example, a deep-pocketed donor who wants to donate an amount above the $10,000 maximum (for example, $100,000) could use a single pop-up in the names of nine other people to get the candidate’s entire campaign contribution. You may donate $10,000 to
Mr. Adams is a regular at events at the mall and gave a speech there just two weeks ago for Lunar New Year.
The mayor has not been accused of any wrongdoing, and City Hall announced yesterday that neither he nor any of his staff had been contacted by the FBI regarding the investigation into Greco.
Mr. Greco, a Chinese immigrant who arrived in the city in the late 1990s, is the third person in Mr. Adams’ inner circle to come under federal scrutiny last year.
In November, the FBI raided the Brooklyn home of Brianna Suggs, a top fundraiser for the mayor. She is suspected of involvement in a kickback scheme involving the Turkish government. Mr. Suggs has not been charged.
That same morning, FBI agents raided the home of Lana Abbasova, who worked in the mayor’s international affairs office.
Suspicions include whether the Adams administration may have conspired with the Turkish government to fuel the election campaign with foreign donations and whether it urged the FDNY to expedite approval of a new consulate in Turkey that had failed previous security inspections. is attracting attention.
Greco describes himself as a “patriotic overseas Chinese” (a term used to describe people who live abroad but maintain a strong loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party) and says he has “not taken paid sick leave due to illness.” “The episode is taking place,” a source said Thursday.
City Hall said she will not be allowed to return to work until the investigation is complete, so if she runs out of sick leave in the meantime, she can use up her annual leave before going on unpaid leave.
The only working phone number listed for her was not in use Friday, and it was not immediately clear if she had an attorney or who that person might be.
Asked on NY1 on Friday morning about the latest developments involving Greco, Adams said, “I’m very clear: Follow the rules.
“Follow the law, follow the rules. I’ve said that throughout my career as a law enforcement officer, and I’ve said that in public,” said the former New York City police lieutenant.
“You know, we all have a job to do. My job is to take trash off the streets and keep the city clean,” the mayor said. “And the people who are reviewing conduct that they think is wrong are going to do their job. My job is to get through this crisis, keep our city safe and clean, and focus on keeping our city safe and clean moving forward.” is placed.”
Additional reporting by Nolan Hicks
