What to KnowA former New York Metropolis Hearth Division chief pleaded responsible Wednesday to a conspiracy cost, admitting that he and others agreed to simply 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 Hearth Prevention (BFP), entered the plea in Manhattan federal court docket, the place sentencing was set for Could 14.When Saccavino was charged in September, he was arrested together with Brian Cordasco, one other former metropolis hearth chief who pleaded responsible in October to a conspiracy cost. Cordasco can be sentenced in March.
A former New York Metropolis Hearth Division chief pleaded responsible Wednesday to a conspiracy cost, admitting that he and others agreed to simply 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 Hearth Prevention (BFP), entered the plea in Manhattan federal court docket, the place sentencing was set for Could 14.
When Saccavino was charged in September, he was arrested together with Brian Cordasco, one other former metropolis hearth chief who pleaded responsible in October to a conspiracy cost. Cordasco can 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 prices alleging that he accepted about $100,000 of free or deeply discounted worldwide flights, resort stays, meals and leisure in return for unlawful marketing campaign contributions from a Turkish official and members of the Turkish enterprise group.
The Bureau of Hearth Prevention is chargeable for regulating the set up of fireside security and suppression techniques all through New York Metropolis and guaranteeing hearth security rules are obeyed.
A plea settlement signed with the federal government really useful Saccavino serve 5 years in jail.
It additionally referred to as for Saccavino to surrender the $57,000 in bribes he acquired earlier than the scheme was found. Authorities stated Saccavino carried out the scheme from 2021 to 2023.
Authorities stated Saccavino lied to his subordinates within the division to justify speeding improper requests to expedite inspections.
In an announcement, Saccavino lawyer Joseph Caldarera stated 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 stated.
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 stated 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,” stated U.S. Legal professional 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 can be held accountable.”
Saccavino is scheduled to be sentenced on Could 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 means of 2023. The lads, who served as chiefs of the BFP, which is chargeable for overseeing and approving the set up of fireside security and suppression techniques in industrial and residential buildings in New York Metropolis.
The 2 males had been accused of working with a 3rd man, a retired FDNY firefighter who began an “expediting” enterprise to fast-track evaluations and inspections for companies and folks.
The indictment associated to the case alleged that Saccavino and Cordasco would obtain cost for purchasers they introduced in to the unsanctioned “expediting” enterprise.
Over the course of two years, prosecutors stated they discovered situations of about 30 tasks that acquired 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 response to the federal indictment. The FDNY confirmed each males retired earlier than the indictment launch.