A former chief of the New York City Fire Department has entered a guilty plea concerning a conspiracy charge linked to the acceptance of bribes. Anthony Saccavino, who previously held the position of head of the Bureau of Fire Prevention, admitted to agreeing to accept approximately $190,000 in bribes in exchange for facilitating expedited safety inspections for clients affiliated with a former firefighter.
Saccavino made his plea in a federal court located in Manhattan, with a sentencing date scheduled for May 14. In September, he was charged and subsequently arrested alongside Brian Cordasco, another ex-fire chief, who also pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge in October. Cordasco is set to face sentencing in March.
The arrests were part of a broader investigation into various federal corruption allegations involving members of Mayor Eric Adams’ administration. However, the case against Cordasco is not believed to be directly connected to these broader probes. Mayor Adams, a Democrat, has faced charges asserting that he accepted around $100,000 worth of free or significantly discounted services, including international flights, hotels, and meals, in exchange for illegal campaign contributions from Turkish officials and business leaders.
The Bureau of Fire Prevention plays a crucial role in overseeing the installation of fire safety systems and ensuring compliance with fire safety regulations throughout New York City. In connection with his plea agreement, authorities proposed a sentence of five years in prison for Saccavino. He is also required to forfeit $57,000 he had accepted in bribes prior to the exposure of the scheme, which reportedly took place between 2021 and 2023.
Investigators revealed that Saccavino misled his subordinates to justify the improper acceleration of inspection requests. Through his legal representative, Joseph Caldarera, Saccavino expressed that he made the tough decision to plead guilty with the welfare of his family in mind.
Caldarera emphasized that Saccavino respects the judicial process and believes that this course of action is ultimately in the best interest of his loved ones.
