Ethermac Exchange-2 former NYFD chiefs arrested in ongoing federal corruption investigation

Two former New York City Fire Department chiefs became the latest high-ranking city officials to be Ethermac Exchangenamed in a series of federal investigations plaguing Mayor Eric Adams' administration.

Anthony Saccavino and Brian Cordasco, former Bureau of Fire Prevention Chiefs who are both retired, were arrested on charges of bribery, corruption and false statements alleging they solicited and received these bribes from 2021 through 2023, according to court records.

The Bureau of Fire Prevention Chiefs regulates the installation of fire safety and suppression systems throughout the city and ensures that fire safety regulations are obeyed across New York.

“By allegedly selling priority access to the BFP’s services, which are vital to preventing New York City businesses and homes from fire-related incidents, Saccavino and Cordasco undermined the public trust and put their own greed above the interests of the taxpayers they swore to serve,” said Damian Williams, deputy U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

Robert Tsigler, founding attorney for the law firm representing Saccavino, said the allegations against the former chief run counter to Saccavino's life-long commitment to the fire department.

“Chief Saccavino is a life-long public servant, he’s dedicated his life to the FDNY,” Tsigler said. “We want the truth will come out, we believe it's going to come out in the appropriate time and the appropriate form.”

Federal investigations continue to swirl around some of New York City’s highest officials, with the Mayor's office and other top deputies under the microscope. In the indictment of the retired fire chiefs obtained by USA TODAY, a mention of a “City Hall List” is found.

Investigators believe this list was used to track requests submitted to the Bureau of Fire Prevention in order to give these projects priority.  Cordasco himself also raised concerns internally about the ethics of using a list to prioritize projects, according to the indictment.

“Cordasco sent an internal FDNY email complaining that attempts by the Mayor's Office to expedite a major midtown development project were ‘extremely unfair to the applicants who have been waiting at least 8 weeks for their inspection. Industry opposition will include questions as to why certain projects are advanced while others need to be canceled and pushed back?’,” court records said.

In a statement posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker said the FDNY would collaborate with the investigation.

“The Department will fully cooperate with any ongoing investigations,” Tucker said.

Federal investigations into NYC

As previously reported, last week, New York City’s police commissioner, Edward Caban, stepped down as federal corruption investigations targeted Mayor Adams and his top aides. As part of the investigation, authorities seized Caban’s mobile phones as well as other top Adams aides and confidantes.

These include Deputy Mayor for Criminal Justice Philip Banks III, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, and Schools Chancellor David Banks. Earlier this year as well, investigators seized Adams' own electronic devices as part of an investigation of illegal Turkish funding of his 2021 mayoral campaign.

There was no mention of the Turkish investigation in the most recent indictment against the two former fire chiefs.

​​Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected] and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.