A Queens property owner with links to former top officials in Mayor Eric Adams' administration finds herself at the center of another federal investigation.
According to the New York Daily News, federal authorities executed a search warrant at the Mayflower Hotel in Long Island City, owned by Weihong Hu, who has connections to former Adams administration official Winnie Greco and has been involved in controversial campaign fundraising activities.
The early Thursday morning raid was conducted as part of an investigation led by the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York. The hotel currently serves as a transitional facility for newly released inmates through a program operated by Housing Works.
While the specific target of the investigation remains unclear, Housing Works representatives have confirmed that neither their organization nor their clients were the focus of the federal action.
Complex Web of Political Connections Emerges
Hu's ties to the Adams administration extend beyond the Mayflower Hotel. She owns another property, the Wyndham Garden Fresh Meadows in Queens, where she hosted Greco for more than eight months at taxpayers' expense.
The Fresh Meadows hotel has also been used for ex-inmate transitional housing under the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice program.
The investigation has revealed potentially illegal campaign activities connected to Hu. She organized fundraising events for Adams' 2021 campaign at the Fresh Meadows Hotel, where donors reportedly received illegal reimbursements from Hu's relatives for their contributions. These activities have drawn scrutiny from federal investigators who are examining the broader implications of these financial transactions.
The raids come at a particularly sensitive time for the Adams administration, as several high-ranking officials have recently resigned amid various federal investigations. Greco herself stepped down from her position in October, following February raids on her Pelham Bay homes and the New World Mall in Queens, where she had helped organize fundraisers for Adams' campaign.
Mounting Legal Challenges for City Administration
The latest development adds to a series of legal challenges facing Mayor Adams and his administration. In September, Adams was indicted by the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York on charges related to illegal straw donations and political favors. He has entered a not guilty plea, with his trial scheduled for April.
Housing Works spokesperson Simbi Akiolu stated:
Housing Works was not the target of the action by federal authorities – nor were any of the clients Housing Works serves at this site, agency management, any subsidiaries, subcontractors, etc.
The administration maintains its commitment to cooperation with law enforcement. Adams' spokeswoman Kayla Mamelak emphasized:
Mayor Adams has been clear that this administration is dedicated to following and upholding the law, and we will continue to cooperate with any law enforcement requests, including those unrelated to the mayor.
Unraveling The Federal Investigation Mosaic
Federal authorities conducted a raid at the Mayflower Hotel in Long Island City, owned by Weihong Hu, who has established connections to former Adams administration official Winnie Greco. The investigation centers on potential campaign finance violations and questionable fundraising practices tied to Mayor Eric Adams' 2021 campaign.
The case highlights the expanding scope of federal investigations into the Adams administration, with multiple officials facing scrutiny and several key members resigning in recent weeks. As the investigation continues, authorities are examining the complex relationships between property owners, campaign donors, and city officials while the administration maintains its commitment to cooperating with law enforcement inquiries.
