On Thursday morning, the Federal Bureau of Investigation raided the headquarters of the New York City Fire Department and the homes of two chiefs as part of a corruption investigation. new york post report.
The FDNY’s Brooklyn headquarters and the homes of Senior Fire Chiefs Brian Cordasco and Anthony Saccavino were searched by FBI agents and city investigators. new york times First reported.
Sources told The Post that the raid was aimed at speeding up safety inspections and establishing safety inspections, including two top officials, including recently retired firefighter Henry J. Santiago Jr. The charges are related to allegations that the police chief was paid $100,000 each.
Deputy Chief Saccavino and Deputy Chief Cordasco have been working for the Fire Department and Fire Protection Bureau since 2020. The two police officers have been reassigned, but have not been charged with any crime. The investigation is still ongoing.
Federal agents seized their cellphones and questioned them about the allegations, officials told the Post. Additionally, documents and computers were removed from the FDNY’s Bureau of Investigation offices.
The FBI began investigating after Santiago told another unnamed fire chief that he had made payments to Cordasco and Saccavino, the paper said. Santiago then allegedly notified the U.S. Department of the Interior about the payment, following instructions from an anonymous fire chief.
Fire Chief Laura Kavanaugh also reportedly contacted the DOI in April after hearing about the allegations, according to sources.
Kavanaugh promoted two chiefs last year, but at the same time several other fire chiefs were demoted. Officials say the change in leadership has caused some friction within the department.
“Secretary Kavanaugh is proactively putting staff at the center of this investigation into work changes and is awaiting guidance from DOI on further action,” a spokesperson for Kavanaugh said.
“The FDNY’s top priority is always to keep New Yorkers safe, and we expect all members of the department to act appropriately,” the spokesperson added.
DOI confirmed it had been notified of the corruption allegations.
This was said by a person who worked with the men. new york daily news“I don’t think they were bribed people.”
“These are the people who have been tested. Someone says, ‘The ABC Building will be tested tomorrow,’ and they say, ‘Okay,’ and they bring people out. I think they’re part of a conspiracy. I don’t think so,” the person added.
The FBI declined a request for comment from the Post. Mr. Cordasco and Mr. Saccavino did not respond to media calls.
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