What to KnowA former New York Metropolis Fireplace Division chief pleaded responsible Wednesday to a conspiracy cost, admitting that he and others agreed to just accept $190,000 in bribes to hurry up security inspections for purchasers of a former metropolis firefighter.Anthony Saccavino, who on the time of the crimes headed the division’s Bureau of Fireplace Prevention (BFP), entered the plea in Manhattan federal courtroom, the place sentencing was set for Might 14.When Saccavino was charged in September, he was arrested together with Brian Cordasco, one other former metropolis fireplace chief who pleaded responsible in October to a conspiracy cost. Cordasco will probably be sentenced in March.
A former New York Metropolis Fireplace Division chief pleaded responsible Wednesday to a conspiracy cost, admitting that he and others agreed to just accept $190,000 in bribes to hurry up security inspections for purchasers of a former metropolis firefighter.
Anthony Saccavino, who on the time of the crimes headed the division’s Bureau of Fireplace Prevention (BFP), entered the plea in Manhattan federal courtroom, the place sentencing was set for Might 14.
When Saccavino was charged in September, he was arrested together with Brian Cordasco, one other former metropolis fireplace chief who pleaded responsible in October to a conspiracy cost. Cordasco will probably be sentenced in March.
The arrests got here amid a number of federal corruption probes of members of the administration of Mayor Eric Adams, though the prosecution of Cordasco was not believed to be associated to these investigations.
Adams, a Democrat, has pleaded not responsible to fees alleging that he accepted about $100,000 of free or deeply discounted worldwide flights, lodge stays, meals and leisure in return for unlawful marketing campaign contributions from a Turkish official and members of the Turkish enterprise neighborhood.
The Bureau of Fireplace Prevention is liable for regulating the set up of fireside security and suppression methods all through New York Metropolis and guaranteeing fireplace security rules are obeyed.
A plea settlement signed with the federal government beneficial Saccavino serve 5 years in jail.
It additionally known as for Saccavino to surrender the $57,000 in bribes he obtained earlier than the scheme was found. Authorities mentioned Saccavino carried out the scheme from 2021 to 2023.
Authorities mentioned Saccavino lied to his subordinates within the division to justify speeding improper requests to expedite inspections.
In an announcement, Saccavino legal professional Joseph Caldarera mentioned his shopper “made a difficult decision to plead guilty to a conspiracy charge, prioritizing his family’s well-being.”
“He respects the judicial process and believes this course of action is in the best interest of his loved ones,” Caldarera mentioned.
The preliminary indictment charged Saccavino and former FDNY chief Brian Cordasco with bribery, corruption and false assertion offenses for the kickbacks scheme. Throughout the two-year interval, the 2 are mentioned to collectively raked in $190,000.
Cordasco, who initially pleaded not responsible to the costs, later modified his plea to responsible after an settlement with the feds.
“Anthony Saccavino betrayed the City agency he was chosen to lead by repeatedly selling access to the Bureau of Fire Prevention’s services in a pay-to-play bribery scheme,” mentioned U.S. Lawyer Danielle Sassoon in written remarks. “This Workplace will proceed to make sure that Metropolis officers who place their very own pursuits above these of the general public will probably be held accountable.”
Saccavino is scheduled to be sentenced on Might 14.
“As today’s guilty plea demonstrates, public officials who compromise City processes with pay-to-play schemes undercut government’s ability to serve the public equitably, and will be held accountable,” Jocelyn Strauber, the Commissioner of the NYC Division of Investigations.
THE SCHEME
In response to federal prosecutors, the bribery scheme began in the summertime of 2021 by 2023. The boys, who served as chiefs of the BFP, which is liable for overseeing and approving the set up of fireside security and suppression methods in business and residential buildings in New York Metropolis.
The 2 males have been accused of working with a 3rd man, a retired FDNY firefighter who began an “expediting” enterprise to fast-track opinions and inspections for companies and folks.
The indictment associated to the case alleged that Saccavino and Cordasco would obtain fee for purchasers they introduced in to the unsanctioned “expediting” enterprise.
Over the course of two years, prosecutors mentioned they discovered situations of about 30 tasks that obtained a bump from Saccavino and Cordasco’s fast-tracking. Their work dried up in early 2023 following a “falling out” with the third co-conspirator, who allegedly didn’t pay the chiefs excellent bribe cash.
Of their roles as highest rating officer of the BFP and the second-in-command, Saccavino and Cordasco earned annual salaries of $263,478 and $257,296, in keeping with the federal indictment. The FDNY confirmed each males retired earlier than the indictment launch.
