A former New York City Fire Department chief pleaded guilty to conspiracy, admitting that he and others agreed to accept nearly $200,000 in bribes to speed up safety inspections. Anthony Saccavino, who was the head of the department’s Bureau of Fire Prevention, entered the plea in a Manhattan federal court on Wednesday, Jan. 30.
Saccavino and Brian Cordasco, another former high-ranking fire prevention chief, are accused of creating a “VIP lane” for faster service by the fire inspection bureau that could only be accessed with bribes.
Federal officials raided their homes in February 2024, and the two were indicted in September 2024.
What charges do the ex-fire chiefs face?
The indictment accuses the chiefs of joining former firefighter-turned-businessman Henry Santiago Jr.’s fire safety company as secret partners in 2021.
Prosecutors said Santiago promised his clients high-end restaurant visits and hotel stays, offering his conspirators a cut of the money for fast-tracking the permit process for a total of $190,000 in bribes over two years.
According to the indictment, he delivered the bribe payments over steakhouse dinners and at the Fire Prevention Bureau’s Brooklyn office.
Santiago pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge in September 2024.
Cordasco also pleaded guilty in October 2024, just three weeks after his arrest.
Both Cordasco’s and Saccavino’s charges carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
Saccavino entered his guilty plea as part of a plea agreement of $57,000, which is the total of payments he personally received during the two years.
Saccavino’s sentencing is scheduled for May, while Cordasco’s sentencing is scheduled for March.
What other corruption issues are happening in NYC?
The indictment of the fire chiefs happened as the city faced multiple federal corruption investigations of Mayor Eric Adams’ administration, leading to several resignations.
Adams pleaded not guilty to charges alleging that he accepted about $100,000 of free or discounted international flights, hotel stays and meals in return for illegal campaign contributions from a Turkish official and members of the Turkish business community.
Now, The New York Times reported that senior Justice Department officials under President Donald Trump have had discussions with federal prosecutors about the possibility of dropping their corruption charges against Adams.
Trump has the power to pardon Adams and said in December that he was considering it for the embattled mayor.
