Former High-Ranking FDNY Official Sentenced To 20 Months In Prison For Role In Bribery Conspiracy

Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that BRIAN CORDASCO was sentenced to 20 months in prison for participating in a conspiracy to solicit and receive bribes in his role as a Chief of the New York City Fire Department (“FDNY”) Bureau of Fire Prevention (“BFP”).  CORDASCO previously pled guilty on October 8, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman, who also imposed today’s sentence.

Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “As a chief of the Bureau of Fire Prevention, Brian Cordasco was entrusted to protect the people of New York City and to fairly represent their interests.  Instead, he repeatedly abused his position of power by expediting fire inspection services for those who paid him thousands of dollars in bribes.  The sentence imposed today sends a clear message that government officials who betray the public trust to line their own pockets will be met with just punishment.”

According to the Indictment, plea agreement, and statements made in court:

From 2021 to 2023, CORDASCO repeatedly abused his position as a Chief of the BFP by participating in a scheme to solicit and receive $190,000 in total bribe payments from a former FDNY firefighter named Henry Santiago, Jr.  In exchange for those bribe payments, CORDASCO used his authority within the BFP to improperly “expedite” BFP inspections and plan reviews for Santiago’s customers.  CORDASCO personally profited $57,000 as part of this scheme.  To carry out this conspiracy, CORDASCO lied to his BFP subordinates to justify otherwise improper expediting requests.  CORDASCO also lied to law enforcement when interviewed about his involvement in the scheme. 

If you believe you have information related to bribery, fraud, or any other illegal conduct by FDNY or BFP employees, please contact squad6complaint@doi.nyc.gov or (212) 825-2402. If you were involved in such conduct, please consider self-disclosing through the SDNY Whistleblower Pilot Program at USANYS.WBP@usdoj.gov.

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In addition to the prison term, CORDASCO, 49, of Staten Island, New York, was sentenced to two years of supervised release and ordered to pay forfeiture of $57,000 and a fine of $100,000.

Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Department of Investigation.

The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Greenwood, Matthew King, and Daniel H. Wolf are in charge of the prosecution.