by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Oct 8 – Amid the scandals swirling around NYC Mayor Eric Adams and his inner circle, on September 16 SDNY US Attorney Damian Williams announced two indictments, limited to the FDNY.
"Anthony Saccavino and Brian Cordasco, two former chiefs of the New York City Fire Department Bureau of Fire Prevention, are charged with bribery, corruption, and false statements offenses… in connection with a scheme to solicit and accept tens of thousands of dollars in bribe payments in exchange for providing preferential treatment to certain individuals and companies with matters pending before the BFP."
At a press conference in 26 Federal Plaza, Williams declined to comment on requests to City Hall; he said one Henry Santiago Jr. is cooperation in this investigation.
Inner City Press covered the presentment, then separate arraignment:
Both defendants are being released today on $250,000 unsecured bond, 2 co-signers each, no communications with co-defendants or Santiago Jr without lawyers present. Turn in guns in 24 hours...
Now at arraignment of FDNY duo before Distrct Judge. Both plead not guilty. AUSA: There are 3 terabytes of discovery, iCloud accounts. We'd like 2 months to produce discovery, conference in 90 days.
Judge Lewis J. Liman: I'll set a trial date at that time - December 17 at 11 am.
Defense (lawyer of Cordasco) Sounds reasonable. (Saccavino's) Works for me
On October 2, Judge Liman set a change of plea proceeding for Brian Cordasco on October 8 at 10 am.
Inner City Press went to and live tweeted the guilty plea - while another City Hall arrest was announced. Thread:
All rise! Judge: Is there an application? Defense: Mr. Cordasco wants to plead guilty. Judge: Let me ask you about yourself. Cordasco: 50, BA from Fairfield University -- Judge: Where is that? Cordasco: Connecticut.
Judge: The maximum penalty is 5 years in prison.Judge: There is, however, a written plea agreement. It has a stipulated sentencing guideline range of 87 to 108 month - but it's capped at 60 months.
Judge: Tell me what you did. Cordasco: Between 2021 and 2023 I received more than $5000 to expedite in FDNY. AUSA: He conspired with Mr. Saccavino and Henry Santiago Jr
Judge: I accept the guilty plea. Sentencingdue to defense counsel medical issue, sentencing moved back to February 19, 2025, which Judge calls a hard date, not to be changed.
See also, nnewly arrested Eric Adams (ex) staffer Mohamed Bahi too
More / analysis on X for Subscribers here and on Substack here
Inner City Press is on the case(s). Watch this site.
This case is US v. Saccavino, et al., 24-cr-537 (Liman)
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