Inside the courtroom: Frank Carone pleads not guilty in Brooklyn federal court

Frank Carone, the former chief of staff to ex-Mayor Eric Adams, appeared in Downtown Brooklyn federal court on Wednesday to face a 13-count indictment. Prosecutors allege Carone and his brother, Anthony Carone, accepted $120,000 in kickbacks to help hotel owner Andy Zhu secure a $6.8 million city contract to use a Long Island City inn as an emergency immigrant shelter.

The government claims the brothers used a "sham" retainer agreement to facilitate the payment for the Microtel Inn by Wyndham, which had previously been rejected by city officials. Frank Carone, who pleaded not guilty to all charges including fraud and tax evasion, was released on a $2 million bond. His release terms include surrendering his passport, wearing an monitoring ankle bracelet, and submitting to random drug tests.

Defense attorneys for Carone described the indictment as being based on assumptions. All co-defendants, including Anthony Carone and Andy Zhu, also pleaded not guilty and are scheduled to return to court on July 1.

Summary by Dispatch AI — read the full story at Brooklyn Eagle — Heights Press.