Two retired New York City Fire Department (FDNY) fire chiefs were arrested by federal authorities early Monday for allegedly accepting over $190,000 in bribes to help fast-track safety inspections and reviews, according to officials. The ex-chiefs, Anthony Saccavino and Brian Cordasco, who worked in the FDNY’s Bureau of Fire Prevention, were taken into custody on charges of bribery, corruption, and making false statements as part of a long-running corruption probe.
The pair 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. According to an indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court, Saccavino and Cordasco allegedly misused their authority for personal financial gain during this period.
The arrests followed raids on both chiefs’ homes by the FBI and city investigators in February. At the same time, the FDNY’s Brooklyn headquarters were searched as well. During these raids, Saccavino and Cordasco allegedly lied to federal investigators in an attempt to conceal their involvement in the bribery scheme.
The nearly two-year scheme involved approximately 30 different projects across New York City, including fire alarm checks at various types of establishments such as apartment buildings, restaurants, bars, and hotels, according to court filings.
Both former chiefs have been charged with conspiracy to solicit and receive a bribe, the actual solicitation and receipt of a bribe, honest services wire fraud, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, and making false statements. Federal officials from the Southern District of New York are expected to hold a news conference on the arrests later Monday morning.
