New York City Police Commissioner Edward Cavan's twin brother is a former police officer who is under investigation for allegedly working as a “fixer” in restaurants and nightclubs in the city, according to reports.
Federal agents are looking into allegations that James Cavan, 56, who reportedly worked as a consultant for the upscale Manhattan hotspot and tried to ease tensions between the establishment and police, sources said. New York Post.
“It wasn't the old-fashioned mafia thing of, 'If you don't pay, we'll break your window,'” one source told the outlet. “But [it was]”My brother is a big shot, so he can eliminate fines and underage drinking.”
According to the report, businesses Cabán worked for include Marquee and PhD, both owned by TAO Hospitality Group, and Creatures at Serena Rooftop in Chelsea, which has received more than 150 noise complaints in the past two years, according to public records.
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According to the New York Post, James Cavan is under investigation for allegedly working as a “fixer” at restaurants and nightclubs in New York City. (James Cavan/Facebook)
Cabán was reportedly summoned when police served the establishment with noise violations and underage drinking complaints, and he reportedly then visited with local police chiefs, many of whom are the subject of federal investigations.
On Wednesday, the FBI searched the homes of Cavan, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III and Timothy Pearson, a former NYPD officer who now advises Mayor Eric Adams on public safety, and seized their electronic devices, the report added, noting the officials received subpoenas as part of a corruption investigation related to the hiring practices.
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 had received a subpoena from federal prosecutors and said he and his team were cooperating with the investigation.
New York City Police Commissioner Edward Cabana speaks at a public safety event in New York City. (nypdpc/Instagram)
As part of their investigation into James Cavan, investigators are reportedly reviewing police reports and emails from NYPD officials about Manhattan bars and restaurants to determine whether complaints were handled appropriately.
Cavan's alleged involvement with these establishments reportedly began when his brother served as first deputy chief under then-NYPD Commissioner Kechant Sewell, who resigned in July 2023.
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Mayor Eric Adams will host an in-person media briefing with his staff at New York City City Hall on July 30, 2024. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
He allegedly offered his services to officers working at Manhattan concert venues and boasted about his influence within the police department, with his brother set to become police commissioner, according to the report.
According to public records, James Cavan joined the NYPD in 1989 but ultimately retired in January 2001 after a number of complaints and allegations piled up.
He faces substantiated charges of using excessive force and abusing his office on two occasions in 1996.
But despite being promoted to sergeant, he was booted from the force in 2001 for wrongfully detaining and threatening a taxi driver he suspected of stealing money from his wife's purse, City & State New York reported.
On Wednesday, the FBI searched the homes of Cavan, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III and former NYPD Officer Timothy Pearson. (Getty Images)
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Cavan later bought an apartment in the Bronx and was listed as one of the city's worst landlords in August 2013, according to the outlet.
A few months later, he was jailed for 30 days for failing to make hundreds of needed repairs to buildings on Commonwealth Street. Genuine Reported.
A Housing Court judge said at the time that Cabán had ignored all of the city's requests to correct more than 300 outstanding property violations and that the city had already spent $115,000 to resolve other urgent issues.
Cabán claimed he had no money to repair the building. New York Daily News.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Edward Cavan, Eric Adams' office, TAO Hospitality Group and Creatures at Serena Rooftop in Chelsea but have not yet heard back.
In a statement, a DCPI spokesperson told Fox News Digital, “The Department of Justice is aware of an investigation being conducted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York involving military personnel. The Department of Justice is fully cooperating with that investigation.”
