The NYPD was served with an evidence preservation letter by federal agents ordering them not to destroy any electronic files — as investigators target information linked to alleged influence peddling at Big Apple nightclubs by Police Commissioner Edward Caban’s twin brother, The Post has learned.
“They’re asking that all the hard disks and servers be preserved because the federal government thinks there’s evidence of corruption on those machines,” a police source told The Post Saturday.
The feds delivered the letter to the department’s legal bureau at 1 Police Plaza on Friday.
The move follows a flurry of subpoenas targeting top members of the Adams administration.
James Caban, the commissioner’s twin and a former cop, allegedly created a “nightlife consultancy company” and told the clubs to hire the company’s employees, claiming “I’ll be able to make your place safer if you hire my security people,” police sources told The Post Saturday.
James Caban allegedly also told the clubs he could call precinct commanders, his brother or Deputy Mayor of Public Safety Philip Banks if they had trouble, the source said.
So if the city “receives several complaints about a Midtown club instead of having cops write summonses or even shut it down” it can be handled by the administration or police brass, a source said.
The IRS is now involved in the investigation because they believe money actually exchanged hands between James Caban’s company or others and the clubs, the source said.
In recent days, the feds subpoenaed the phones of various police officers in areas that have a high concentration of restaurants and clubs.
They took the phones of Assistant Chief James N. McCarthy, commander of Patrol Borough Manhattan South, which covers all of southern Manhattan, Assistant Chief Kevin Williams Sr., the commanding officer of Patrol Borough Queens South , and Deputy Inspector Robert Gault, commander of the Midtown North Precinct, police sources said.
They also took the phones of a lieutenant in the 10th Precinct, which covers Chelsea, and a sergeant in the 5th Precinct, which encompasses Chinatown, Little Italy and the Bowery.
The Post reported Saturday that James Caban was being eyed by the feds over his alleged work as a fixer for swanky restaurants and nightclubs, according to police sources.
On Wednesday, federal agents raided the home of Police Commissioner Caban, according to sources. James Caban’s home was also hit with a search warrant, according to sources.
Other top Adams officials who were hit by raids this week include Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks as well as Schools Chancellor David Banks and First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, according to law enforcement sources, who said the feds showed up with search warrants and seized their electronic devices.
The feds also subpoenaed the phones of another Adams aide, retired NYPD inspector Timothy Pearson; and Banks’ brother Terence, a former MTA official who is now engaged in consulting work, sources said.
Prosecutors from the Southern District of New York are leading the investigation — who are probing Adams’ top aides along with a separate investigation launched last year into the mayor’s 2021 campaign donations, sources said.
Mayor Adams office hasn’t commented on the specifics of the probe and the other officials haven’t returned calls seeking comment.
Some police officials are worried that the probe could have a disastrous effect on department, which has had problems with police officer suicides in the past, a police source said.
“They’re worried someone’s going to eat a gun,” the source said.
The NYPD said Saturday, “The department is aware of an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York involving members of service. The department is fully cooperating in the investigation.”
