A former chief of the FDNY has been sentenced to three years behind bars for his involvement in a bribery scheme tied to $200,000 in payments, with over $50,000 going into his own pockets, as prosecutors revealed on Wednesday.
Anthony Saccavino, who previously led the Fire Prevention Bureau, admitted to participating in the corrupt scheme alongside Brian Codasco, another senior fire prevention official. The duo accepted bribes from firefighters in exchange for expedited testing processes.
Prosecutors from the Southern District of New York stated that these fire safety tests were dodged at upscale restaurants, hotels near JFK International Airport, and various city businesses.
Saccavino and Codasco established “VIP lanes” for quicker service from the Fire Inspection Bureau, accessible only through bribery, as prosecutors noted.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton commented, “Anthony Saccavino will undermine the New York City Fire Department, which he pledged to serve. The chief orchestrated a bribery scheme that disrespects the hard work of New Yorkers.”
In addition to his prison time, Saccavino received two years of probation, a $150,000 fine, and was ordered to repay the $57,000 he profited from the scheme.
The city’s Department of Investigation initiated an inquiry into illegal activities in 2023 after receiving tips suggesting misconduct at the Fire Prevention Bureau. The investigation later involved the FBI and legal teams for the Southern District.
“Today’s sentence sends a clear message that city officials who exploit their positions for brief payments will face significant repercussions, including imprisonment,” officials stated.
Saccavino’s lawyer, Joseph M. Calderella, defended him, arguing that his client was a “firefighter’s firefighter” and an American hero who made tough choices for his family. He lamented that the case against Saccavino was exaggerated.
“He signed a plea agreement believing it was for the best for his family,” Calderella noted, highlighting the support Saccavino received from his firefighting peers.
In a related case, Saccavino’s accomplice, Brian Codasco, received a 20-month prison sentence from a Manhattan judge in March.
“You have betrayed the trust of the fire department and the public,” Judge Lewis Liman told Codasco during sentencing.
Both individuals were indicted in September of the previous year.
