New York City Mayor Eric Adams' staff member was fired Thursday after a Brooklyn bar owner alleged that the staff member tried to extort money from the twin brother of former NYPD Commissioner Edward Cavan. The news comes amid a widening federal investigation into Adams' inner circle.
Ray Martin, operations manager for the city's Community Affairs Division, was fired following a bombshell WNBC report that Martin had attempted to broker a deal between a Coney Island bar owner and James Caban, the twin brother of former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, who resigned on Thursday. The deal was purportedly to resolve issues between the bar owner and the NYPD.
According to reports, Shamel Kelly, owner of the Juice and Moore Bar on Mermaid Street, said he was told he would receive help and better treatment from the NYPD if he hired and paid the police commissioner's brother.
Kelly had received dozens of noise complaints about loud music and constant police presence from the 60th Precinct, which was hurting his relatively new business.
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New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Edward Cavan attend a press conference at 1 Police Plaza on April 3, 2024 in New York City. (Reuters/Brendan McDiarmid)
“It felt like an ultimatum: either accept this or you're terminated,” Kelly told NBC New York.
“[Martin] “He just said he was Eric Adams' assistant. He said he knew Eddie Cavan, but he didn't mention him by name. I think it was because he was the commissioner of the NYPD and he had issues with the NYPD.”
Kelly allegedly contacted James Cavan, who told him he would help Kelly with the NYPD issue if Kelly paid him about $2,500 up front. Kelly alleges he provided WNBC with phone records and text messages from August 2023 in which Martin encouraged him to contact James Cavan.
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Kelly, whose establishment was licensed to operate as a juice bar by day and serve alcohol on weekend nights, turned down Martin's offer and ultimately closed in February.
New York City officials told Fox News they were unaware of the allegations against Martin until they were published.
“Upon receiving this inquiry, we immediately launched an internal investigation and found that Mr. Martin had violated the terms of his employment,” the statement provided to Fox News said.
“Mr. Martin was fired yesterday for cause. We expect all city employees to act ethically and in the public interest. As WNBC has just reported that both the Department of Justice and the Department of Investment are investigating this matter, we cannot comment further due to the confidentiality of the investigation.”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams' staff member was fired Thursday after a Brooklyn bar owner claimed he was being extorted for money by the twin brother of former NYPD Commissioner Edward Cavan. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)
“James Cavan unequivocally denies any wrongdoing and his work as a consultant and liaison between the police department and private companies was entirely legal, particularly given his previous employment as an NYPD officer,” a lawyer for James Cavan told WNBC.
“Our client is cooperating fully with law enforcement, and once the investigation is complete, these allegations will be found to be unfounded and without merit,” the statement said.
Martin has been our Operations Coordinator since April 2023. Prior to this, he worked in the Media and Entertainment Department.
Meanwhile, James Cavan is under investigation for selling consultancy services to nightclubs, claiming to protect them from police scrutiny.
Federal agents executed a warrant on New York City Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III while he was speaking at New York City Hall. (Lev Ladin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
As a result of the investigation, their brother, Edward Cavan, resigned as the city's police commissioner on Thursday. Days earlier, federal agents searched the homes of the Cavan brothers and other city officials and seized their electronic devices as part of the federal investigation. Edward Cavan is not a target of the investigation, his lawyer said.
Rumors of an impending resignation had been swirling for days after the Cavan raid, and federal agents executed arrest warrants the same day on three of Adams' other top officials: First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III and Timothy Pearson, a former NYPD officer turned mayoral adviser.
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(L-R) New York City First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, New York City Council Member Gayle Brewer, District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Callie Lazar White attend the 19th Annual Voice Gala at the Ziegfeld Ballroom on May 9, 2024 in New York City. (Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Federal agents seized Adams' devices as he was leaving a Manhattan event last year and searched the home of one of his key fundraisers. Adams has denied any wrongdoing but acknowledged last month that he and his team were cooperating with federal prosecutors who served them with a subpoena.
Adams appointed Edward Cavan to become the NYPD's first Hispanic chief in July 2023.
He was replaced by interim director Tom Donlon, a former FBI agent who previously led the National Threat Center and oversaw terrorism watch lists.
Fox News' Michael Lewis, Alexis McAdams, Landon Mion and Maria Paronich and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
