Former FDNY Chief Sentenced 3 Years Bribery Scheme Fast-Tracking Inspections

Anthony Saccavino, a former New York City Fire Department chief who led the Bureau of Fire Prevention, was sentenced to three years in prison for accepting bribes to fast-track fire safety inspections at various city businesses. Alongside co-conspirator Brian Cordasco, Saccavino solicited and received around $190,000 in bribes between 2021 and 2023, expediting reviews for about 30 projects including hotels, restaurants, and apartment buildings. Prosecutors described Saccavino as the "mastermind" of the scheme, which involved circumventing standard inspection backlogs exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, with a retired firefighter acting as an intermediary. In addition to his prison term, Saccavino was fined $150,000 and ordered to forfeit $57,000, the amount he personally pocketed, while Cordasco received a 20-month sentence and related fines. This bribery scandal surfaced amid unrelated federal charges against Mayor Eric Adams concerning expedited inspections linked to a Turkish consulate, charges that were later dismissed. Authorities emphasized that the case underscored a breach of public trust and the commitment to hold officials accountable for corruption within the FDNY.