A second ex-FDNY chief copped a plea Wednesday in a virtually $200,000 pay-to-play bribery scheme that fast-tracked hearth inspections throughout the Massive Apple.
Anthony Saccovino, 59, copped to a bribery conspiracy cost in Manhattan federal court docket as a part of a plea settlement that may see him cough up $57,000 — the tally of illicit funds he reaped in throughout the years-long caper.
The previous head of the FDNY’s Bureau of Fireplace Prevention admitted he joined a crooked scheme with Brian Cordasco — one other high-ranking hearth prevention chief — to simply accept bribes from a retired smoke eater in trade for expediting inspections.
“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 Manhattan US Legal professional Danielle Sassoon in a press release.
The plea caps a probe that smoldered amid a spate of federal raids and actions concentrating on alleged corruption in Mayor Eric Adams’ administration.
Saccovino and Cordasco have been accused by now-former US Legal professional Damian Williams of making a “VIP lane” for quicker service by the hearth inspection bureau that might solely be accessed with bribes.
The pair had been raided by the feds in February 2024, earlier than finally being indicted in September that yr — roughly two weeks earlier than Adams himself was slapped with unrelated bribery and corruption fees, which he denies.
The indictment in opposition to the chiefs accused them of becoming a member of former firefighter-turned-businessman Henry Santiago Jr.’s hearth security firm as secret companions in 2021.
Santiago had promised his shoppers, starting from high-end eating places to motels close to JFK Airport, that he may expedite their hearth inspections, prosecutors mentioned.
Behind-the-scenes, Santiago secretly provided his public servant conspirators a “cut” if they might fast-track the allowing course of, court docket papers state.
Over two years and the mayoralties of each Adams and Invoice de Blasio, the scheme finally concerned 30 completely different tasks throughout town and raked in $190,000 in bribes, prosecutors mentioned.
Santiago personally delivered bribe funds to his companions throughout steakhouse dinners in Manhattan and even on the hearth prevention bureau’s Brooklyn workplace, in response to the feds.
He pleaded responsible to a conspiracy cost in September in trade for his cooperation.
Cordasco additionally pleaded responsible simply three weeks after his arrest.
Each Cordasco and Saccovino’s fees carry a most sentence of 5 years in jail.
Cordasco’s sentencing is scheduled for March 24, whereas Saccovino will face the music Could 14.
Saccovino’s lawyer Joseph Caldarera famous his consumer has served town since 1995 and is a 9/11 first responder.
“His dedication to the community has been unwavering,” Caldarera mentioned in a press release. “Today, Mr. Saccavino 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.”
The probe was performed partly by town’s Division of Investigation, the place Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber hailed Saccovino’s plea.
“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,” she mentioned in a press release.
— Further reporting by Ben Kochman and Craig McCarthy
