New York City Wired

'Two high-ranking New York Fire Department chiefs were arrested early Monday on federal bribery and corruption charges that accuse them of taking nearly $100,000 apiece in a scheme to expedite safety inspections, people with knowledge of the matter said.' 'The two chiefs, whose homes and offices at Fire Department headquarters were searched by federal agents and city investigators in February, are expected to appear in United States District Court in Manhattan later on Monday, the people said.' 'The chiefs — Brian E. Cordasco, 49, and Anthony M. Saccavino, 59 — were responsible for overseeing safety inspections on building projects. Neither man could immediately be reached for comment Monday morning. It was unclear whether either had retained lawyers in the matter, which has been under investigation since last summer.' 'There is no indication that the case is related to any of the four separate federal corruption investigations swirling around Mayor Eric Adams, his campaign and some of his most senior aides. The inquiry focused on the mayor is being conducted by the same agencies that investigated the chiefs, however, and also relates in part to fire safety inspections, several of the people said.' . . . . . 'The Fire Department put both men on modified duty and removed them from their positions overseeing inspections after the searches of Mr. Cordasco’s home in Staten Island and Mr. Saccavino’s home in Harlem. Both men, one official said, have remained on modified duty.' 'The investigation into the chiefs has been unfolding for at least a year and was focused at least in part on whether they had accepted bribes to help expedite or influence fire inspections on building projects, people with knowledge of the matter said at the time.' 'Investigators were examining whether each man received $97,000 from a recently retired firefighter, the people said. One of the payments was made to a limited liability company registered to Mr. Cordasco’s home address, the people said. It was unclear precisely what the payments were for and whether the retired firefighter had made them on behalf of himself or someone else.' 'City Payroll records show that in 2023, the Fire Department paid Mr. Saccavino $241,119 and Mr. Cordasco $235,462.' nytimes.com/2024/09/16/nyreg…