Mon Sep 16 16:17:17 UTC 2024: ## Two Former NYC Fire Chiefs Arrested in Bribery Scandal

**New York, NY** – Two former New York City Fire Department chiefs, Anthony Saccavino and Brian Cordasco, were arrested on Monday on charges of soliciting tens of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for preferential treatment in the department’s fire prevention bureau. This marks the latest development in a widening corruption investigation that has already implicated several top city officials.

The indictment alleges that Saccavino and Cordasco, who both served in the Bureau of Fire Prevention, solicited and accepted bribes from 2021 to 2023. The bureau is responsible for regulating fire safety systems throughout the city and ensuring fire safety regulations are obeyed. The charges include bribery, corruption, false statements, conspiracy to solicit a bribe, and honest services wire fraud.

The arrests come amidst a series of high-profile resignations, including that of Mayor Eric Adams’s top legal advisor, Lisa Zornberg, who resigned on Saturday, and Police Commissioner Edward Caban, who resigned on Thursday. Both resignations were reportedly linked to a federal investigation into potential corruption within the Adams administration.

FBI agents have seized the electronic devices of several top city officials, including Caban, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks, Schools Chancellor David Banks, and Mayoral Advisor Timothy Pearson. The U.S. Attorney’s office in Manhattan is leading the investigation, but the specific nature of the probe and whether the information sought is connected to one or more investigations remains unclear.

The investigation is not the first time Adams has been caught up in allegations of corruption. In November 2023, as part of an investigation into political fundraising during his 2021 campaign, Adams, his campaign, and City Hall were subpoenaed. This investigation is believed to be separate from the probe that led to Caban’s resignation.

While Adams and other city officials have not been publicly accused of any crimes, the recent arrests and resignations raise serious concerns about the integrity of the city government.

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