Summary:
Two former high-ranking New York City Fire Department chiefs, Anthony Saccavino and Brian Cordasco, have been indicted on charges of bribery.
The indictment alleges that the chiefs pocketed over $190,000 in bribes to expedite fire safety reviews for businesses.
The chiefs allegedly teamed up with a retired firefighter who ran an "expediting" business, promising businesses faster attention in the fire department's backlogged system.
The charges come amidst scrutiny of Mayor Eric Adams' administration, with the recent resignation of Police Commissioner Edward Caban and FBI raids on the homes of top Adams administration officials.
NYC Fire Chiefs Indicted for Bribery: Fast-Track Inspections for a Price
Two former high-ranking New York City Fire Department chiefs, Anthony Saccavino and Brian Cordasco, have been indicted on charges of bribery. The indictment alleges that the chiefs pocketed over $190,000 in bribes to expedite fire safety reviews for businesses, prioritizing some applicants over others.
The charges come as Mayor Eric Adams' administration has been under scrutiny from federal prosecutors in Manhattan, with the recent resignation of Police Commissioner Edward Caban amidst a federal investigation into his department's nightclub enforcement.
"New Yorkers deserve better," said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, announcing the charges. "For nearly two years, Saccavino and Cordasco misused their authority for their own financial gain." The pair allegedly teamed up with a retired firefighter who ran an "expediting" business, promising businesses faster attention in the fire department's backlogged system. In return, they received 30 percent of the expediter's fees.
The chiefs allegedly kept their subordinates in the dark about the scheme, blaming the mayor's office for the need to prioritize certain inspections. The scheme involved 30 different projects and ended when the chiefs had a falling out with their co-conspirator last year.
The indictment charges the pair with conspiracy to solicit and receive a bribe, solicitation and receipt of a bribe, and making false statements to federal agents. Saccavino retired in March and Cordasco retired in June. They are scheduled to appear in court.
The indictment comes as the U.S. Attorney's office is investigating top figures in Adams' administration, including the now-resigned Police Commissioner whose phone was seized last week. FBI agents also raided the homes of top Adams administration officials, including First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III.
Adams has stated that he has not been accused of wrongdoing and takes the investigations “extremely seriously.” Williams said that "our fight against public corruption continues" and "our work is far from done."
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