Ex-FDNY Chief Sentenced in Bribery Scheme

Former FDNY chief Brian Cordasco has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for his involvement in a bribery scheme where he accepted nearly $190,000 in exchange for fast-tracking fire inspections and safety reviews. Cordasco, along with his supervisor Anthony Saccavino, exploited a backlog during the COVID-19 pandemic to prioritize inspections for those who paid bribes, affecting at least 30 projects across New York City. Despite his previous impeccable record, Cordasco's actions were condemned by Judge Lewis Liman as a serious breach of trust and driven by greed. Cordasco has also been ordered to pay $157,000 in fines and restitution, along with two years of supervised release after serving his sentence. This case is part of a broader investigation that also implicated New York Mayor Eric Adams in a separate bribery scandal related to expedited inspections. Cordasco pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in October 2024, and Saccavino, who pleaded guilty earlier, is awaiting sentencing.