Second ex-FDNY chief pleads guilty in $200K bribery scheme

A former FDNY chief pleaded guilty in a $200,000 pay-to-play bribery scheme that expedited fire inspections in New York City.

Anthony Saccovino, 59, admitted to a bribery conspiracy charge and agreed to pay back $57,000, the amount he received in illegal payments during the scheme.

Saccovino confessed to participating in a corrupt arrangement with Brian Cordasco, another high-ranking fire prevention chief, to accept bribes in exchange for speeding up inspections.

Manhattan US Attorney Danielle Sassoon stated, “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.”

The investigation revealed that Saccovino and Cordasco established a “VIP lane” for quicker service through the fire inspection bureau, accessible only through bribes.

The indictment against the chiefs accused them of being secret partners in a fire safety company run by Henry Santiago Jr., a former firefighter-turned-businessman.

Santiago promised clients expedited inspections in exchange for bribes, which ultimately totaled $190,000 over two years and involved 30 projects in the city.

Both Cordasco and Saccovino face a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Cordasco’s sentencing is set for March 24, while Saccovino’s is scheduled for May 14.

Saccovino’s attorney Joseph Caldarera mentioned his client’s long service to the city and his role as a 9/11 first responder.

The city’s Department of Investigation, led by Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber, commended Saccovino’s guilty plea as a step towards holding officials accountable for compromising city processes with pay-to-play schemes.

Additional reporting by Ben Kochman and Craig McCarthy