Ex-FDNY Chief Gets 20 Months Over Bribes to Expedite Inspections

A former New York City Fire Department chief will spend 20 months behind bars after admitting to taking thousands of dollars of bribes in exchange for preferential treatment on building inspections and approvals.

Brian Cordasco, a chief in the Bureau of Fire Prevention, was sentenced in Manhattan Monday, a little more than five months after he pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to solicit and receive bribes.

Cordasco is one of a group of current and former city officials who were prosecuted in the wake of a scandal that culminated with the indictment of Mayor Eric Adams on corruption charges. Shortly after the election of President Donald Trump, the Department of Justice asked a judge to throw out the case against Adams while retaining the authority to charge him again later. US District Judge Dale Ho is currently weighing whether to grant the government’s request or throw out the case permanently.

Ex-New York Fire Chief Pleads Guilty to Accepting Bribes to Speed Inspections

Adams, who denied wrongdoing, was accused of secretly accepting illegal contributions to his 2021 campaign from foreign citizens, accepting straw donations and using them to receive taxpayer-funded matching contributions. He’s also accused of taking free flight and hotel upgrades and other gifts in excess of $100,000 without disclosing them as required.

Earlier today, his lawyer urged Ho to “promptly reach a decision,” saying that Adams’ petitions to declare himself a candidate for the upcoming mayoral election are due Thursday.

Adams is facing an uphill battle to win reelection. A poll conducted earlier this month by Quinnipiac University showed his approval at 20%, the lowest rating the school has recorded for a New York City mayor in nearly three decades of polling.