Former FDNY Chief Brian Cordasco has pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to a bribery scheme, where he accepted bribes to expedite fire safety inspections for various clients, including developers and businesses. Cordasco, along with fellow chief Anthony Saccavino, was accused of soliciting nearly $200,000 in bribes between 2021 and 2023, with Cordasco personally pocketing $57,000. The scheme involved using a middleman, retired firefighter Henry Santiago Jr., to facilitate the transactions. Cordasco's guilty plea marks the first in a series of corruption cases connected to New York City's administration, although there's no direct link to the charges facing Mayor Eric Adams. Cordasco faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, with a sentencing hearing scheduled for February 19, 2024. His co-defendant Saccavino's case is still pending.