REVEALED: Eric Adams’ fundraising chief’s NYC home was raided by FBI as part of probe into ‘kickback scheme involving Turkish government and a Brooklyn construction firm’ – and was timed ‘purposely’ while mayor was in DC
The home of Eric Adams’ top fundraiser was raided by the FBI on Thursday as part of an investigation into an alleged kickback scheme involving the Turkish government and a Brooklyn construction company, a report said.
Brianna Suggs’ Brooklyn home was searched while he was on his way to meetings in Washington DC, forcing him to abruptly cancel and return to “take care of a case.”
The New York Times obtained part of the search warrant, which showed it was related to an investigation into Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign.
Authorities are investigating whether the campaign colluded with a Brooklyn construction company and the Turkish government to funnel foreign money into the campaign’s coffers, apparently through a straw donor program.
Some of the officers present belong to the public corruption unit, the newspaper said.
It was unclear what officers were looking for.
Agents searched the home of Brianna Suggs (left), a campaign consultant who helped Adams (right) raise $2.5 million for his 2025 election
Adams was on his way to D.C. for meetings to discuss the city’s migrant crisis when he heard about the raid.
He had taken a video of himself on a plane on the way there this morning. Without explanation, he returned to New York City, while other mayors remained in DC for the talks. Adams has not yet commented on the raid.
The warrant was intended to prove the theft of federal funds and a conspiracy to steal federal funds; wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy; as well as campaign contributions from foreign nationals and conspiracy to make such contributions, according to The New York Times.
Investigators were reportedly interested in whether the campaign benefited the construction company’s officials and employees, as well as Turkish officials.
Neighbors tell DailyMail.com that officers arrived at 9am and came out with boxes.
Agents in FBI vests were among those who removed boxes from the home
Officers are shown outside Suggs’ home in Crown Heights today after the raid
They described Suggs as coming from a “nice family.”
‘I know the whole family, they are very good people. They are a very good family.
“I saw the FBI around and it was scary, it was really scary,” said Christopher Kelly Burwell, 54.
With Suggs’ help, Adams has raised more than $2.5 million for his re-election campaign.
The pair have worked together since 2017, when she joined his Brooklyn Borough President’s office as an administrative intern.
Suggs was Adams’ fundraiser and director of logistics for his successful 2021 mayoral campaign. She now works as a fundraiser for the Kings County Democratic County Committee.
Adams’ prolific night owl and appearances in hotspots such as expensive members’ clubs, known as the “party mayor”, have left a bitter taste in some mouths.
In 2021, six people were accused of making illegal donations to Adams’ first campaign.
Adams was scheduled to be in Washington DC today to meet with officials about the city’s migrant crisis. When news of the raid emerged, he abruptly returned to New York
The men included former police officers with whom Adams served in the NYPD. They were accused of using false names to disguise their donations.
Prosecutors claimed they wanted to influence the mayor’s office and possibly win city contracts.
Adams came clean: Prosecutors said he had no knowledge of the scheme. It is unclear whether today’s raid was related to those previous charges.
Earlier this year, Suggs was criticized for taking donations for Adams’ re-election campaign while simultaneously opposing him on behalf of a Manhattan real estate owner doing business with the city.
Some speculated that the conflict of interest would lead to pay-for-play politics.
“The reason I think it should be illegal is because when people work for you on a campaign, you become close, and then if that person lobbies the same (official) she’s raising money for, she gets preferential treatment …and that means that the client receives preferential treatment.
‘That just doesn’t look good. It doesn’t pass the smell test,” Betsy Gotbaum, a veteran of the city council, told me The New York Daily News in April.
A recent report from The city also alleges that Adams’ 2021 campaign ignored repeated requests to name donors who had donated more than $300,000.
Their donations, divided among 500 donors, used a municipal donation matching program that increases payments.