On Monday, American federal authorities arrested and charged two former directors of the Bureau of Fire Prevention (BFP) of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) with bribery, corruption, and making false statements, with the alleged amount of bribery totaling $190,000.
According to a statement released by the U.S. Department of Justice on Monday, 49-year-old Brian Cordasco and 59-year-old Anthony Saccavino are both accused of using their positions to solicit and accept bribes while serving as directors of the fire prevention department of the New York City Fire Department from 2021 to 2023.
James E. Dennehy, head of the FBI’s New York field office, stated in the announcement, “The New York City Fire Department officials charged today are alleged to have accepted bribes to expedite inspection processes, undermining the fundamental fairness and integrity of our system.”
Dennehy expressed that the actions of the two officials not only jeopardized public safety but also eroded public trust in firefighters who are honest, hardworking, and dedicated to protecting others.
The Bureau of Fire Prevention is responsible for overseeing and approving the fire safety systems of commercial and residential buildings in New York City, ensuring compliance with regulations through the review of design plans and on-site inspections. In many cases, buildings require approval from the BFP before they can be used or opened to the public. Saccavino and Cordasco, as directors of the department, were tasked with supervising review and inspection work but allegedly abused their power for personal gain over a period of at least two years.
Prosecutor Damian Williams of the Southern District of New York stated, “As alleged, Anthony Saccavino and Brian Cordasco abused their positions as directors of the New York City Fire Department’s BFP to line their pockets through bribery.”
Saccavino and Cordasco solicited bribes from retired firefighter Henry Santiago Jr., who operated an unapproved “expedite service” company – Santiago Company. Following their instructions, Santiago promised clients expedited review and inspection processes by the BFP and charged fees for this service.
Saccavino and Cordasco fabricated reasons to deceive BFP staff, prioritizing the review or inspection applications of specific clients in exchange for bribes from Santiago or his company.
During the investigation into this corruption case, around February 2024, Saccavino and Cordasco voluntarily participated in interviews with the FBI. In these interviews, they repeatedly made false statements in an attempt to conceal their involvement in bribery.
Both individuals are charged with one count of conspiracy to solicit and accept bribes, carrying a maximum sentence of 5 years; one count of solicitation and receipt of bribes, with a maximum sentence of 10 years; one count of honest services wire fraud, with a maximum sentence of 20 years; one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, with a maximum sentence of 20 years; and one count of perjury, with a maximum sentence of 5 years. Currently, both individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty, and specific sentencing for the defendants will be determined by a judge.
The Department of Justice statement also urged citizens to contact [email protected] or (212) 825-2828 if they have information regarding bribery, fraud, or other illegal activities by FDNY or BFP staff. Individuals who may have been involved in such activities are encouraged to consider self-disclosure through the Southern District of New York Whistleblower Pilot Program by contacting [email protected].