A former high-ranking New York City Fire Department official has entered a guilty plea in a bribery case that revealed a troubling side of city operations. According to a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, Anthony Saccavino, who served as Chief of the FDNY Bureau of Fire Prevention (BFP), has admitted to participating in a pay-to-play bribery scheme.
Saccavino was responsible for "expediting" BFP inspections and plan reviews for customers of a former FDNY firefighter, Henry Santiago, Jr. In return, Saccavino received $190,000 in bribes, $57,000 of which he personally profited from. It was reported that, standing before U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman, Saccavino pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to solicit and receive a bribe, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
Detailing the charges, U.S. Attorney Danielle R. Sassoon told reporters, "Anthony Saccavino betrayed the City agency he was chosen to lead by repeatedly selling access to the Bureau of Fire Prevention's services in a pay-to-play bribery scheme." An investigation by the FBI and the New York City Department of Investigation led to Saccavino's exposure and subsequent plea. Meanwhile, Saccavino is scheduled for sentencing on May 14, and has agreed to forfeit the $57,000 as part of his plea agreement.
The authorities have urged those with knowledge of similar misconduct to come forward. Those involved are considered to make use of the SDNY Whistleblower Pilot Program. As outlined by the U.S. Attorney's Office, the case against Saccavino is being led by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Greenwood, Matthew King, and Daniel H. Wolf.
Highlighting the earnest efforts of law enforcement in this matter, Ms. Sassoon praised the collaborative work of the FBI and the New York City Department of Investigation. The case has brought to light deeply ingrained issues of corruption within city agencies, as officials underscore the need for continued vigilance in rooting out those who would put personal gain over public service and safety.
