A longtime confidante to Eric Adams who is under federal investigation has “disappeared” and is believed to be cooperating with authorities against the embattled New York City Mayor and other former members of his cabinet, sources told The Post.
Winnie Greco, 62, former Asian Affairs advisor for the mayor, who has helped raise hundreds of thousands for his political campaigns, resigned in October, months after her properties in the Bronx were raided by FBI agents.
Since then there have been few sightings of her in New York City, according to a source, who added Greco may allegedly be helping federal authorities in their ongoing probes of Adams and other City Hall aides.
On Thursday, Adams’ top aide and Greco’s friend Ingrid Lewis-Martin surrendered to authorities to face bribery and money laundering charges. She is accused of helping two businessmen who gave her DJ son a $100,000 loan to buy a Porsche, according to a joint probe by the Manhattan District Attorney and the City’s Department of Investigation.
Lewis-Martin, who resigned over the weekend, is the highest profile city official to face criminal charges since Adams was indicted on federal corruption charges in September.
“The rumor is that she [Greco] is in China right now,” said the source.
Greco was born in the communist country, but has worked in New York City for over 25 years. Calls to her were not returned this week.
Steven Brill, a lawyer representing Greco, refused to answer questions about her whereabouts. He told The Post that “Greco is not cooperating in any prosecutions,” and pointed out she has not been charged with any crime.
A spokesman for the federal Eastern District of New York did not return requests for comment this week regarding whether Greco may be indicted or if she had been co-operating with their office.
Another former Adams aide, Rana Abbasova — who was indicted alongside him on federal corruption charges related to upgrades on flights to Turkey and campaign finances — is cooperating with investigators, according to the New York Times.
Greco is being probed for using workers at a Queens mall to hide campaign donations to Adams, according to reports. The city’s Department of Investigation is also looking into allegations of straw donors to events organized by Greco as well as alleged promises she made to a campaign volunteer in exchange for renovations on her kitchen.
Earlier this year, The Post revealed federal prosecutors are probing private emails detailing trips to China Adams made when he was Brooklyn Borough President. He made seven trips during his tenure in Brooklyn between 2014 and 2021, which were organized by Greco. She has close ties to the country’s ruling Communist Party and groups they operate in the US through their United Front Work Department, an arm of the CCP that seeks to spread Chinese influence abroad.
Greco is also close to Lewis-Martin, whose relationship with Adams dates back to when Lewis-Martin served as his chief of staff in the New York State Senate. Both women held advisory positions when Adams was Brooklyn Borough President from 2013 to 2021.
“She’s my sister and I love her,” said Lewis-Martin, referring to Greco at a City Hall event honoring Asian Americans in May, 2022. “We are one family and the patriarch of our family is Eric Adams.”
In October, when she resigned, Greco was seen leaving City Hall accompanied by Lewis-Martin.
Meanwhile, a Chinese spy who ran a “secret police station” in Manhattan, first revealed by The Post, to help Beijing target government dissidents faces up to five years in prison after pleading guilty Wednesday to acting as an illegal foreign agent.
Chen Jinping, 60, admitted in Brooklyn federal court to “conspiring” to act on behalf of the People’s Republic of China without telling US authorities.
And on Thursday, the Department of Justice charged Yaoning “Mike” Sun of acting as an illegal agent of China and trying to influence a municipal political campaign in southern California.
