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Retired FDNY chief pleads guilty in inspection bribery case

One of two fire prevention chiefs admitted to taking more than $5,000 over three years to fast-track inspections

NYC Corruption Fire Chiefs

Retired New York City Fire Department Chief Brian Cordasco, right, and his lawyer Frank Rothman, leave federal court in New York, Monday Sept. 16, 2024.

Stefan Jeremiah/AP

By Bill Carey
FireRescue1

NEW YORK — A retired FDNY chief pleaded guilty to conspiracy for accepting bribes to fast-track safety inspections.

On Oct. 8, Brian Cordasco entered a guilty plea, admitting that he took over $5,000 from 2021 to 2023 to expedite safety inspections, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York.


Two retired FDNY chiefs stand accused of accepting bribes to fast-track fire safety approvals in a corruption scandal that allegedly netted them nearly $200,000

In September, Cordasco and retired chief Anthony Saccavino were arrested after a year-long federal corruption probe, WABC reported. He faces up to five years in prison.

Cordasco’s plea doesn’t require cooperation against his co-defendant, Saccavino, but prosecutors say they conspired to create a VIP line for paid fire inspections.

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