FBI investigators searched the Bronx home of top mayoral adviser Winnie Greco on Thursday, officials confirmed to Gothamist, amid an ongoing probe into Mayor Eric Adams' campaign fundraising.
An FBI spokesperson confirmed that agents entered a home on Gillespie Avenue in the Bronx “to conduct a court-authorized law enforcement activity.” The address is registered to Greco, a campaign and City Hall adviser who is also currently under a city investigation.
Adams’ 2021 campaign has been under federal public corruption investigation for months. Thursday’s raid follows at least two others that have involved the homes of members of the mayor’s inner circle. FBI agents last year raided the homes of the mayor's top fundraiser Brianna Suggs and City Hall staffer Rana Abbasova. Federal agents searched Adams' car and seized his digital devices last November.
The mayor has not been accused of wrongdoing.
Greco is listed as a senior policy adviser who is paid $100,000 a year, according to city payroll records. She helped Adams raise money within the Asian business community for his 2021 campaign and recently came under scrutiny after The City reported she'd misused her position for personal gain.
The mayor’s office subsequently referred Greco to the Department of Investigation, which said it had opened an investigation into Greco.
News of Thursday's raid was first reported by News12.
The mayor’s office acknowledged Thursday’s FBI raid but did not comment on Greco, who is now on leave from her position.
“Our administration will always follow the law, and we always expect all our employees to adhere to the strictest ethical guidelines,” said spokesperson Fabien Levy in a statement. “As we have repeatedly said, we don’t comment on matters that are under review, but will fully cooperate with any review underway. The mayor has not been accused of any wrongdoing.”
Greco has maintained a low profile since news of the city investigation was announced in November. She was present at a recent Lunar New Year celebration at the Surrogate's Courthouse in Lower Manhattan but was not photographed with the mayor. She could not immediately be reached for comment.
Her relationship with Adams goes back to his days as Brooklyn borough president, when she worked as a volunteer fundraiser and honorary ambassador to the Chinese community. She facilitated an 11-day trip to China for Adams in 2014 that was paid for by a nonprofit she formed, according to the New York Post.
Brenda Garcia, a neighbor who lives across the street, described seeing some 40 FBI agents blocking the street and carrying items back and forth from 1447 and 1448 Gillespie Ave., which are connected structures.
“They were here when I left the house at 7 in the morning to take my daughter to school,” Garcia said shortly after 2 p.m. “They’re still here now.”
The agents had left the block by 3:45 p.m., according to a Gothamist reporter on the scene.
Catalina Gonella contributed reporting.
Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the location of the Lunar New Year celebration.
