John Annese – New York Daily News
Two now-retired FDNY chiefs were arrested Monday on federal charges they accepted $190,000 in bribes to speed up fire safety inspections before leaving the department.
Former FDNY Assistant Chief Anthony Saccavino and former Deputy Assistant Chief Brian Cordasco were busted on a 43-page indictment that includes counts of bribery, conspiracy, wire fraud and lying to the FBI.
Saccavino was head of the FDNY’s Fire Prevention Bureau and Cordasco worked under Saccavino.
They allegedly conspired with a retired firefighter who owned an “expediting business,” then directed the members of their bureau to speed up the inspection process for that conspirator’s business in exchange for bribes, the feds allege.
The duo “repeatedly abused their positions of trust as high-ranking officials in the New York City Fire Department … from at least in or about 2021 through in or about 2023 by soliciting and accepting tens of thousands of dollars in bribe payments in exchange for providing preferential treatment,” reads the indictment, which was unsealed in Manhattan Federal Court.
The duo would repeatedly lie to justify speeding up the process, or use the influence of their positions, at times falsely claiming that the properties were actually on a so-called “City Hall List” of preferred buildings and project that should get faster inspections, the feds allege.
At the same time, Cordasco publicly said he opposed the idea of a City Hall list, writing in one email, that it was “extremely unfair to the applicants who have been waiting at least 8 weeks for their inspection. Industry opposition will include questions as to why certain projects are advanced while others need to be canceled and pushed back?” according to the feds.
FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker said Monday the department will “fully cooperate with any ongoing investigations.”
“Every member of the FDNY takes a sworn oath to conduct themselves honestly and ethically. Anything less will not be tolerated,” he added. “Keeping New Yorkers safe remains our top priority.”
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