A former top official at the New York City Fire Department has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for orchestrating a brazen bribery scheme that fast-tracked fire safety inspections for restaurants, hotels, and businesses across the city.
Anthony Saccavino, 61, who once led the FDNY’s Bureau of Fire Prevention, admitted to accepting nearly $190,000 in bribes between 2021 and 2023 in exchange for pushing inspection approvals through the system. Prosecutors said Saccavino and another high-ranking FDNY official, Chief Brian Cordasco, exploited their authority to benefit over 30 commercial projects.
“Chief Saccavino led a pay-to-play bribery scheme that would offend the sensibilities of every hard-working New Yorker,” said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.
A retired firefighter who ran an unauthorized “expediting” business acted as the middleman in the scheme, helping facilitate the bribery payments and coordinating with Saccavino and Cordasco. Cordasco pleaded guilty and was sentenced earlier this year to 20 months behind bars.
The arrests came just days before Mayor Eric Adams was indicted in a separate bribery case, which included allegations of improper fire safety approvals for the Turkish consulate. However, that case… later dropped by the Trump administration… was not related to the FDNY bribery scandal.
In addition to his prison sentence, Saccavino was ordered to pay a $150,000 fine and to forfeit $57,000 that he personally pocketed.
His attorney did not respond to requests for comment.
