Federal authorities charged two retired FDNY fire chiefs, Anthony Saccavino and Brian Cordasco, for accepting $190,000 in bribes to expedite fire inspections, marking another corruption case under Mayor Eric Adams’ administration. The indictment reveals that the two former chiefs, once top officials in the FDNY’s Bureau of Fire Prevention, formed a secret partnership with retired firefighter Henry Santiago Jr. to fast-track inspections for bribes.
Santiago delivered payments to Saccavino and Cordasco, often during dinners or even at the fire prevention bureau’s Brooklyn office. This scheme, spanning nearly two years and covering about 30 projects citywide, involved inspections for fire alarms in apartments, bars, and hotels.
“They allegedly created a VIP lane for faster service that could only be accessed with bribes,” said Damian Williams, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, labeling the operation “classic pay-to-play corruption.”
The 43-page indictment sheds light on a case that first gained attention in February when the FBI raided the homes of the former chiefs and FDNY’s Brooklyn headquarters. Saccavino and Santiago began discussing their business venture in 2020, long before Adams assumed office. By 2021, Santiago transformed his nightlife business into a fire safety company, partnering secretly with Saccavino and Cordasco.
Santiago promised clients, including a high-end Manhattan restaurant and hotels near JFK Airport, expedited inspections, using his connections with the two chiefs to accelerate the process. In turn, he bribed them with payments collected from his clients, according to the indictment. The two chiefs are facing charges including conspiracy, bribery, and wire fraud, with their arraignment set for Monday.
Mayor Adams, whose top aides were recently raided by federal investigators in unrelated probes, distanced himself from the case. He emphasized that the investigation began before his tenure and that the proper steps were taken when the current administration became aware of it.
Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker vowed full cooperation with investigators, stating, “Every member of the FDNY takes a sworn oath to conduct themselves honestly and ethically. Anything less will not be tolerated.”
Saccavino’s lawyer, Joseph M. Caldarera, defended his client, citing his heroic role as a 9/11 first responder and stressing that he deserves the presumption of innocence. Saccavino and Cordasco, who retired earlier this year, will collect annual pensions of $261,789 and $125,573, respectively.
