Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that Anthony Saccavino has been sentenced to 36 months in prison. Saccavino was found guilty of participating in a conspiracy to solicit and receive bribes during his tenure as Chief of the New York City Fire Department Bureau of Fire Prevention (BFP). He had pled guilty earlier this year on January 29 before U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman, who imposed the sentence.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton remarked, "Anthony Saccavino undermined the New York City Fire Department, an institution he swore to serve. Chief Saccavino led a pay-to-play bribery scheme that would offend the sensibilities of every hard-working New Yorker. Public officials who violate the public trust for financial gain will be pursued vigorously by our Office and our law enforcement partners."
According to court documents and statements made during proceedings, from 2021 to 2023, Saccavino orchestrated a conspiracy with Henry Santiago Jr., a former FDNY firefighter. The scheme involved soliciting and receiving $190,000 in bribe payments from Santiago's customers in exchange for expedited inspections and plan reviews by BFP officials. Saccavino personally gained $57,000 from these activities and misled both his subordinates at BFP and law enforcement regarding his involvement.
In addition to his prison term, Saccavino was sentenced to two years of supervised release and ordered to pay forfeiture of $57,000 along with a fine amounting to $150,000.
The investigation was conducted with contributions from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Department of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Greenwood, Matthew King, and Daniel H. Wolf from the Public Corruption Unit.
For individuals possessing information related to bribery or other illegal activities within FDNY or BFP, contact details have been provided: squad6complaint@doi.nyc.gov or (212) 825-2402. Those involved are encouraged to consider self-disclosure through the SDNY Whistleblower Pilot Program at USANYS.WBP@usdoj.gov.
