Brian Cordasco, the former chief of the New York City Fire Department’s (FDNY) Bureau of Fire Prevention, has been sentenced to nearly two years in federal prison for his involvement in a bribery scheme, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced on Monday.
Cordasco, 49, from Staten Island, pleaded guilty on October 8, 2024. From 2021 to 2023, he misused his authority by soliciting and accepting $190,000 in bribes from former FDNY firefighter Henry Santiago Jr. In exchange, Cordasco expedited fire safety inspections and plan reviews for Santiago’s clients.
Cordasco personally pocketed $57,000 from the illegal scheme, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reported. To cover up his actions, he misled his subordinates in the Bureau of Fire Prevention by providing false reasons for the expedited services.
Additionally, Cordasco lied to investigators about his role in the bribery, according to the office.
“As the chief of the Bureau of Fire Prevention, Brian Cordasco had a responsibility to protect the people of New York City and serve their interests,” Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said. “Instead, he abused his power, providing fire inspection services to those who bribed him with thousands of dollars.”
Podolsky emphasized that the sentence sends a strong message: “Government officials who betray public trust for personal gain will face just punishment.”
Besides prison time, Cordasco was also sentenced to two years of supervised release, ordered to forfeit $57,000, and fined $100,000.
