Two Former FDNY Chiefs Arrested for Taking Bribes
Bribes Totaled $190,000
Former Chiefs Allegedly Accepted Payments to Expedite Inspections
Two former chiefs of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) have been arrested and charged with taking bribes in exchange for expediting inspections, according to authorities.
The former chiefs, identified as Daniel Cassidy and Edward Baggott, allegedly accepted payments totaling $190,000 from a contractor seeking to have inspections of his work expedited.
The bribes were allegedly paid in cash and through a series of shell companies, according to a criminal complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.
Cassidy and Baggott Allegedly Abbreviated Inspections
In exchange for the bribes, Cassidy and Baggott allegedly abbreviated or skipped required safety inspections of buildings and other structures, thereby allowing the contractor to obtain certificates of occupancy and other approvals more quickly.
The alleged scheme took place over a period of several years, according to the complaint.
Cassidy, 68, retired as a chief fire marshal in December 2020. Baggott, 64, retired in May 2021.
Both Men Have Pleaded Not Guilty
Both men have pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include bribery, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
If convicted, they could face significant prison sentences.
The investigation into the alleged bribery scheme is ongoing, and additional arrests are possible, according to law enforcement sources.
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