A former high-ranking official in the FDNY’s Bureau of Fire Prevention admitted Wednesday to taking bribes in exchange for fast-tracking inspections.

Anthony Saccavino, 59, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to solicit and receive a bribe — a charge that carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.


What You Need To Know

  • Anthony Saccavino, 59, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to solicit and receive a bribe

  • From 2021 to 2023, Saccavino solicited and accepted a total of $190,000 in bribes from a former FDNY firefighter and used his authority to push through plan reviews and inspections

  • Prosecutors said Saccavino personally pocketed $57,000 from the scheme, which he has agreed to forfeit as part of his plea deal

Federal prosecutors say Saccavino took part in a yearslong scheme to expedite fire safety inspections — for a price.

“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,” U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon said in a statement.  

From 2021 to 2023, Saccavino solicited and accepted a total of $190,000 in bribes from a former FDNY firefighter, Henry Santiago Jr., according to prosecutors. In return, they say he used his authority to push through plan reviews and inspections for Santiago’s clients.

To keep it going, Saccavino allegedly misled his staff about why certain projects were being expedited and later lied to law enforcement about his involvement, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said Saccavino personally pocketed $57,000 from the scheme, which he has agreed to forfeit as part of his plea deal.

Authorities previously said the alleged kickback scheme did not compromise fire safety on any of the roughly 30 projects involved, adding that all of them have since been reinspected.

Prosecutors have also charged former FDNY Chief Brian Cordasco in connection with the scheme. He was indicted alongside Saccavino this past September.