Shamel Kelly, a former Brooklyn bar owner, has publicly expressed his sense of vindication amidst a broadening investigation into City Hall’s corrupt activities. Kelly, who previously ran the Juice and Moore Bar in Coney Island, disclosed at a press conference that he was the victim of an alleged extortion attempt by James Caban, the twin brother of the recently resigned NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban.
Kelly recounted multiple instances where his establishment, despite holding all necessary permits, faced excessive police responses to noise complaints. He alleged that after declining to pay James Caban a $2,500 sum to mitigate this police presence, his business encounters with law enforcement intensified, leading to its eventual closure.
The lawyers representing Kelly, Harry Daniels and Bernarda Villalona, also weighed in at the press briefing, describing the police actions as unnecessary and intrusive over mere noise complaints, highlighting the excessive number of officers and the investigative overreach into the private property.
Simultaneously, a larger federal coruption investigation has roped in top officials from the NYPD and aides to Mayor Eric Adams, outlining a dramatic backdrop of alleged systemic corruption, though no charges have been brought against the Caban brothers specifically.
This case surfaces as the city reels from the shock of a federal indictment of Mayor Adams on multiple charges involving corruption and foreign entities, thereby intensifying the scrutiny around law enforcement and governance in New York City.
James Caban’s representatives firmly deny all allegations, maintaining his innocence and asserting the legality of his consultancy and liaison roles, given his background with the NYPD.
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