Two retired New York City Fire Department fire chiefs were arrested by the feds early Monday for allegedly accepting more than $190,000 in bribes to help fast-track safety inspections and reviews, officials said.
Anthony Saccavino and Brian Cordasco, who worked in the FDNY’s Bureau of Fire Prevention, were nabbed on bribery, corruption, and false statements offenses as part of the long-running corruption probe, according to an indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court.
They are accused of “soliciting and accepting tens of thousands of dollars in bribe payments in exchange for providing preferential treatment to certain individuals and companies with matters pending before the FDNY” from 2021 through 2023.
“For nearly two years, Saccavino and Cordasco misused this authority for their financial gain,” the indictment alleged.
The arrests come after the two former chiefs had their homes raided by the FBI and city investigators back in February.
The FDNY’s Brooklyn headquarters was also searched at the same time.
At the time of the raids, both Saccavino and Cordasco allegedly lied to federal investigators to “conceal their involvement in the bribery scheme,” according to the indictment.
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The nearly two-year scheme involved roughly 30 different projects across the Big Apple – including fire alarm checks at apartment buildings, restaurants, bars, and hotels, court filings state.
They have both been charged with conspiracy to solicit and receive a bribe, solicitation, and receipt of a bribe, honest services wire fraud, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, and making false statements.
