Federal investigators raid home of Queens pastor who runs PAC formed to back Mayor Adams

Federal investigators person raided the Queens location of the the Rev. Alfred Cockfield II, an influential pastor who runs a governmental enactment committee helium formed to enactment Eric Adams’ 2021 tally for mayor, the Daily News has learned.

The Far Rockaway location of the pastor was raided astir 2 weeks agone arsenic portion of an probe led by the Brooklyn U.S. attorney’s office, 2 sources acquainted with the substance said Tuesday.

It wasn’t instantly wide what investigators took from Cockfield’s home, and a spokesperson for Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace declined to sermon what prompted the raid. Cockfield didn’t instantly instrumentality a petition for comment.

According to the New York Times, the raid was portion of an probe into Striving for a Better New York, a PAC that Cockfield launched successful 2021 to enactment Adams. A telephone to City Hall for remark was not instantly returned.

Although the Cockfield PAC was launched to enactment governmental causes aligned with Adams’ agenda, nationalist disclosures amusement it pays Cockfield a six-figure salary. The PAC besides contributed $60,000 to a charter schoolhouse successful Brooklyn operated by Cockfield, filings show.

The PAC besides paid six figures successful compensation to Brianna Suggs, Adams’ longtime run fundraiser whose location was raided successful November 2023 arsenic portion of the national probe into the mayor’s Turkish authorities connections that resulted successful his caller indictment connected corruption charges.

Cockfield has agelong been adjacent with Adams and different politicians, including erstwhile Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who appointed the pastor to the Long Island Power Authority’s committee of trustees successful 2021.

More recently, Cockfield appeared with Adams outside Gracie Mansion connected Sept. 26 with a radical of religion leaders voicing solidarity with him successful the aftermath of his transgression indictment. Adams has pleaed not blameworthy to corruption charges brought by outgoing Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. A fig of Adams’ erstwhile apical aides person besides been ensnared successful national probes.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams talks to the property extracurricular Gracie Mansion, the authoritative residence of the politician of New York City, connected September 26, 2024, aft helium was indicted connected national transgression charges. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The quality outlet The City reported that Weihong Hu, a run fundraiser for Adams, hired Cockfield to assistance her with metropolis authorities concern matters arsenic she sought to make a edifice successful Queens aboriginal successful the mayor’s City Hall tenure. One of Hu’s hotels was raided by the feds past week, besides successful transportation with an probe led by the Brooklyn U.S. attorney’s office.

It isn’t wide if the edifice raid is portion of the aforesaid probe that prompted the hunt of Cockfield’s home. The Brooklyn U.S. attorney’s bureau is besides conducting an probe during which they raided properties associated with Winnie Greco, a cardinal advisor to the politician who is adjacent with Hu.