A New York City Buildings Inspector has been charged in a bribery scheme that saw him accept a cash bribe in exchange for not issuing a fine to a construction company in Queens, New York.
The indictment, announced by Acting United States Attorney Seth D. DuCharme, alleges that Francesco Ginestri, a 36-year-old Buildings Inspector with the New York City Department of Buildings, solicited a $1,200 cash bribe from an employee of the construction company in exchange for ensuring that the DOB would not issue a $25,000 fine to the company.
The alleged bribe was paid in August 2020, at a bakery in Queens, which was under surveillance by federal law enforcement agents. The meeting was recorded, and Ginestri was subsequently arrested and charged with solicitation and receipt of a bribe.
Ginestri was released on a $150,000 bond and is due to appear in court again in the coming weeks. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section, with Assistant United States Attorneys Tanya Hajjar and Alicia N. Washington in charge of the prosecution.
The New York City Buildings Inspector is accused of betraying the public trust and lining his pockets with a cash bribe. The indictment alleges that Ginestri exploited his position to benefit himself financially, rather than protecting public safety at city construction sites.
The FBI, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, and the New York City Department of Investigation all worked together to bring the case to light, and Acting United States Attorney DuCharme praised their efforts in a statement.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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