A staffer for New York City Mayor Eric Adams was fired after a Brooklyn bar owner accused him of attempting to extort money by involving former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban’s twin brother, leading to a growing federal probe of Adams’ inner circle. Ray Martin, an operations manager in the city’s community affairs unit, was terminated after a report emerged indicating that he tried to broker a deal with James Caban, the twin brother of the former NYPD Commissioner who resigned amid the scandal. The deal was allegedly meant to resolve the bar owner’s issues with the NYPD, who were constantly responding to noise complaints at his establishment.
The bar owner, Shamel Kelly, claimed that Martin offered to help him with his NYPD problems if he hired and paid the police commissioner’s brother. Kelly said he felt pressured to comply with the demands in order to prevent his business from being shut down. When he declined the offer, Kelly eventually closed his business in February. New York City Hall was reportedly unaware of the allegations made against Martin until the news report broke. After conducting an internal review, they found that Martin had violated the terms of his employment and was terminated for cause. The Department of Justice and Department of Investigation are now investigating the matter.
James Caban, the twin brother of the former NYPD Commissioner, is under investigation for allegedly selling consulting services to nightclubs under false pretenses. This led to his brother Edward Caban resigning as the police commissioner, although he himself is not under investigation. Federal agents raided the homes of the Caban brothers and other city officials, seizing their electronic devices as part of the ongoing federal probe. In addition to the Cabans, other high-ranking Adams aides have also been targeted, including First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III, and Timothy Pearson, a former NYPD official turned mayoral adviser.
Last year, federal agents seized Mayor Adams’ devices and raided the home of one of his top fundraisers. Adams denied any wrongdoing but confirmed that he had received a subpoena from federal prosecutors and is cooperating with the investigation. Despite the turmoil within his inner circle, Adams remains committed to his duties as mayor. He appointed Edward Caban as the NYPD’s first Hispanic commissioner in July 2023, but he has since been replaced by interim Commissioner Tom Donlon, a retired FBI agent with experience overseeing national security matters. The ongoing federal probe has cast a shadow over Adams’ administration, with several key officials facing scrutiny for possible corruption.
