Latest news with #Cordasco
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Former FDNY Chief participated in ‘corrupt scheme,' accepting thousands in bribes: DOI
NEW YORK (PIX11) – A former FDNY Chief was sentenced to three years in prison for accepting thousands of dollars in bribes, the City of New York Department of Investigations announced Wednesday. Anthony Saccavino, 60, a former Chief in the Bureau of Fire Prevention, accepted bribes in exchange for providing expedited plan reviews and priority inspections, according to a DOI investigation. More Local News As stated in court documents, Saccavino was ordered to pay $150,000 in fines and $57,000 in forfeiture. 'Today's sentence sends a strong message that City officials who monetize their positions and give preferential treatment in exchange for bribe payments will face serious consequences,' DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said in a statement. 'This defendant participated in a corrupt scheme to expedite plan reviews and inspections for clients of a former FDNY colleague in exchange for $50,000 in bribes, placing personal financial gain above his duty to provide fair and equitable service to all New Yorkers.' According to court documents, from 2021 to 2023, Saccavino and co-defendant Brian Cordasco accepted thousands in bribes to give preferential treatment to certain individuals and companies with pending matters before the Bureau of Fire Prevention. The bureau oversees and approves the installation of fire safety and suppression systems in city-owned commercial and residential buildings. More Crime News Cordasco pled guilty in October 2024 to conspiracy to solicit and receive a bribe and was sentenced to 20 months in prison in March, followed by two years of supervised release. Cordasco was also fined $100,000 and ordered to forfeit $57,000. Saccavino and Cordasco were each charged with one count of 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. Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
31-03-2025
- Associated Press
Ex-FDNY chief gets nearly 2 years in federal prison for accepting bribes
NEW YORK (AP) — A former New York City Fire Department chief was sentenced to nearly two years in federal prison Monday after admitting he accepted tens of thousands of dollars in bribes to expedite fire safety inspections. Brian Cordasco, who was chief of the department's Bureau of Fire Prevention, was also ordered to complete two years of supervised release after his prison term, pay a $100,000 fine and forfeit $57,000. Jocelyn Strauber, commissioner of the city's Department of Investigation, which investigated the bribery scheme along with federal authorities, said Cordasco 'prioritized his personal financial interests over delivering ethical leadership and equitable service to all New Yorkers.' 'The sentence imposed today sends a clear message that government officials who betray the public trust to line their own pockets will be met with just punishment,' Matthew Podolsky, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said. Judge Lewis Liman said in Manhattan federal court that the prison sentence of 20 months was warranted in order to deter others from committing such 'opportunistic' crimes of greed, The Daily News reports. 'You betrayed the hardworking people under you, who perform such an important service for New York,' the judge told Cordasco, according to the newspaper. The 50-year-old, who lives in the New York City borough of Staten Island, is scheduled to report to prison June 17, according to prosecutors. His lawyers didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment Monday. Cordasco pleaded guilty in October to conspiring to solicit and receive a bribe. At the time, he admitted he and others accepted bribes in order to issue fire safety inspections to individuals and companies 'earlier than they were entitled to.' The city's Bureau of Fire Prevention approves the installation of fire suppression systems in commercial and residential buildings. In many cases, bureau approval is required before a building can be occupied or opened to the public. Cordasco was arrested along with another FDNY chief, Anthony Saccavino, in September. Prosecutors say Cordasco pocketed $57,000 of the $190,000 in bribes generated by the scheme between 2021 and 2023. Saccavino, 59, of New York, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to solicit and receive a bribe in January. He's scheduled to be sentenced May 14.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Yahoo
Ex-fire chief in New York City pleads guilty in corruption scandal
NEW YORK (AP) — A former New York City Fire Department chief pleaded guilty Wednesday to a conspiracy charge, admitting that he and others agreed to accept $190,000 in bribes to speed up safety inspections for customers of a former city firefighter. Anthony Saccavino, who at the time of the crimes headed the department's Bureau of Fire Prevention, entered the plea in Manhattan federal court, where sentencing was set for May 14. When Saccavino was charged in September, he was arrested along with Brian Cordasco, another former city fire chief who pleaded guilty in October to a conspiracy charge. Cordasco will be sentenced in March. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. The arrests came amid multiple federal corruption probes of members of the administration of Mayor Eric Adams, although the prosecution of Cordasco was not believed to be related to those investigations. Adams, a Democrat, has pleaded not guilty to charges alleging that he accepted about $100,000 of free or deeply discounted international flights, hotel stays, meals and entertainment in return for illegal campaign contributions from a Turkish official and members of the Turkish business community. The Bureau of Fire Prevention is responsible for regulating the installation of fire safety and suppression systems throughout New York City and ensuring fire safety regulations are obeyed. A plea agreement signed with the government recommended Saccavino serve five years in prison. It also called for Saccavino to give up the $57,000 in bribes he received before the scheme was discovered. Authorities said Saccavino carried out the scheme from 2021 to 2023. Authorities said Saccavino lied to his subordinates in the department to justify rushing improper requests to expedite inspections. In a statement, Saccavino attorney Joseph Caldarera said his client '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 said.
The Independent
29-01-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Ex-fire chief in New York City pleads guilty in corruption scandal
A former New York City Fire Department chief pleaded guilty Wednesday to a conspiracy charge, admitting that he and others agreed to accept $190,000 in bribes to speed up safety inspections for customers of a former city firefighter. Anthony Saccavino, who at the time of the crimes headed the department's Bureau of Fire Prevention, entered the plea in Manhattan federal court, where sentencing was set for May 14. When Saccavino was charged in September, he was arrested along with Brian Cordasco, another former city fire chief who pleaded guilty in October to a conspiracy charge. Cordasco will be sentenced in March. The arrests came amid multiple federal corruption probes of members of the administration of Mayor Eric Adams, although the prosecution of Cordasco was not believed to be related to those investigations. Adams, a Democrat, has pleaded not guilty to charges alleging that he accepted about $100,000 of free or deeply discounted international flights, hotel stays, meals and entertainment in return for illegal campaign contributions from a Turkish official and members of the Turkish business community. The Bureau of Fire Prevention is responsible for regulating the installation of fire safety and suppression systems throughout New York City and ensuring fire safety regulations are obeyed. A plea agreement signed with the government recommended Saccavino serve five years in prison. It also called for Saccavino to give up the $57,000 in bribes he received before the scheme was discovered. Authorities said Saccavino carried out the scheme from 2021 to 2023. Authorities said Saccavino lied to his subordinates in the department to justify rushing improper requests to expedite inspections. In a statement, Saccavino attorney Joseph Caldarera said his client '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 said.
Associated Press
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Ex-fire chief in New York City pleads guilty in corruption scandal
NEW YORK (AP) — A former New York City Fire Department chief pleaded guilty Wednesday to a conspiracy charge, admitting that he and others agreed to accept $190,000 in bribes to speed up safety inspections for customers of a former city firefighter. Anthony Saccavino, who at the time of the crimes headed the department's Bureau of Fire Prevention, entered the plea in Manhattan federal court, where sentencing was set for May 14. When Saccavino was charged in September, he was arrested along with Brian Cordasco, another former city fire chief who pleaded guilty in October to a conspiracy charge. Cordasco will be sentenced in March. The arrests came amid multiple federal corruption probes of members of the administration of Mayor Eric Adams, although the prosecution of Cordasco was not believed to be related to those investigations. Adams, a Democrat, has pleaded not guilty to charges alleging that he accepted about $100,000 of free or deeply discounted international flights, hotel stays, meals and entertainment in return for illegal campaign contributions from a Turkish official and members of the Turkish business community. The Bureau of Fire Prevention is responsible for regulating the installation of fire safety and suppression systems throughout New York City and ensuring fire safety regulations are obeyed. A plea agreement signed with the government recommended Saccavino serve five years in prison. It also called for Saccavino to give up the $57,000 in bribes he received before the scheme was discovered. Authorities said Saccavino carried out the scheme from 2021 to 2023. Authorities said Saccavino lied to his subordinates in the department to justify rushing improper requests to expedite inspections. In a statement, Saccavino attorney Joseph Caldarera said his client '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 said.
