FBI raids FDNY headquarters, 2 chiefs homes, in connection to corruption probe

The Fire Department of New York headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, was raided by the FBI on Feb. 15, 2024.

NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) –  The FBI raided the FDNY headquarters and the homes of two senior fire department chiefs on Thursday morning in connection with a corruption investigation on whether they had improperly accepted payments, according to reports.

New York investigators, collaborating with FBI agents, conducted searches at both the FDNY headquarters in Brooklyn and the homes of Brian Cordasco and Anthony Saccavino, who oversee safety inspections, according to the  New York Times.

“The FDNY’s first priority is always keeping New Yorkers safe, and we expect every member of the department to act appropriately,” the FDNY said in a statement.  “As soon as Commissioner Kavanagh was alerted to these allegations last year, she immediately referred them to DOI to investigate them. Commissioner Kavanagh has proactively placed the employees at the center of this investigation on modified duty, and we are awaiting guidance from DOI regarding further action.”

The probe began in the summer of 2023, initially focused on whether the two chiefs had received nearly $100,000 each in a scheme to expedite or arrange inspections, according to the reports.

It wasn’t immediately clear if the search was related to the corruption case involving Mayor Eric Adams and his fundraising campaign in 2021, according to reports.

Neither Cordasco, who has been with the FDNY since 2002, nor Saccavino has been accused of wrongdoing.

1010 WINS has reached out to the FBI and the NYC Department of Investigation for comment.

The DOI confirmed with 1010 WINS that it received a complaint from the FDNY but declined to further comment.