Craig Carton’s lucrative career on the airwaves began 26 years ago — long before he became one half of the much-listened-to “Boomer & Carton” show and faced federal fraud charges stemming from millions of dollars in crushing gambling debt.
The New Rochelle-born personality became a broadcaster in 1991 at WGR Radio in Buffalo, then zigzagged around the country, landing gigs at stations in Cleveland and Philadelphia, where he covered the Philadelphia Eagles.
Carton’s career started taking off, though, in Denver, first at KKFN “The Fan,” where his became the highest-rated show in the station’s history, and then as a morning show host for crosstown rival KBPI.
He moved back to the East Coast for a stint at WNEW-FM in New York, then joined New Jersey 101.5 to host “The Jersey Guys” for more than five years.
In 2005, the bombastic shock jock tussled with then-acting Gov. Richard Codey after making comments about first lady Mary Jo Codey’s battle with postpartum depression.
“I wish I weren’t governor, I’d take you out,” Codey threatened Carton off-air, according to reports at the time.
“That’s real professional. You want to fight?” the radio host fired back.
In 2007, Carton was paired with former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason to launch their “Boomer & Carton” show on CBS’ WFAN Sports Radio.
The two, who’d never met before, replaced the highly rated host Don Imus, who was abruptly kicked off the air over offensive comments he made about the Rutgers women’s basketball team.
Since then, “Boomer & Carton,” which runs between 6 and 10 a.m., has topped ratings in its time slot. It recently ranked No. 1 among men ages 25-45 — over rival Mike Francesa’s afternoon show, which came in third, according to Nielsen’s winter ratings.
This year, the show also was named the second-most influential sports talk show in the country by Talkers Magazine.
“They said it wouldn’t last,” Carton told The Post in 2011, referring to the hit show’s beginning.
“Really?” Esiason sarcastically responded. “I knew [it would work] the first day in the studio.”
The 48-year-old lives with his wife, Kimmy, and four children in Manhattan. He founded TicTocStop, a charity dedicated to children with Tourette syndrome, which he was diagnosed with in his teens.
He was arrested Wednesday on charges that he stole $5.6 million from investors by promising huge returns on high-demand concert tickets that were never delivered.
Carton and his co-defendants used most of the stolen funds to repay gambling debts to casinos and other individuals, the feds said.