A former City of Pittsburgh building inspector has found himself on the wrong side of the law after being sentenced for accepting bribes from a developer. Walter Eiseman, 59, has been handed down 18 months of probation, which includes 90 days of home confinement. In addition, he must forfeit $1,375 and is subjected to a $1,500 fine following his conviction of bribery, per an announcement made by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The case revealed troubling links between public officials and private interests and was overseen by Chief U.S. District Judge Mark R. Hornak. Eiseman, responsible for inspecting properties for occupancy certificates, accepted bribes in late 2018 to expedite inspections for a redevelopment project, as stated by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
But this breach of trust wasn't for nothing. The developer, looking to transform a commercial building into luxury apartments and hotel rooms, needed this particular certificate for a historical tax credit. In return, Eiseman was promised and even accepted home appliances from the developer. These were delivered to him in early January 2019, after he admitted to performing the inspections the previous month. An additional bribe—a set of kitchen cabinets—was ordered but not ultimately delivered to Eiseman's residence.
Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey R. Bengel led the prosecution, holding the former inspector accountable for the misuse of his public position. The Federal Bureau of Investigation diligently exposed the flaw in the otherwise staunch fabric of city governance.
