BROOKLYN, NY – Massimo Dabusco, 54, of Yorktown Heights, New York, formerly a New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) Inspector, today confessed to a brazen scheme to shake down contractors and property owners. Dabusco pleaded guilty at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn to conspiracy to commit extortion, admitting he leveraged his position for personal gain.
The guilty plea, announced jointly by Acting United States Attorney Bridget M. Rohde, FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney, Jr., and Department of Investigation Commissioner Mark G. Peters, details a pattern of abuse stretching from December 2013 to June 2015. Dabusco wasn’t just an inspector; he was a silent partner in A&G Contracting Group Corp., a demolition and excavation firm, and used his city job to pad its bottom line.
Court filings paint a damning picture of a man willing to weaponize his authority. Dabusco allegedly threatened to cripple the businesses of contractors who didn’t fall in line, dangling the threat of DOB shutdowns over their heads if they didn’t cover outstanding fines owed by A&G. He didn’t stop there, also tipping off contractors to upcoming inspections, giving preferred firms a heads-up while others remained vulnerable.
“This wasn’t about upholding building codes; it was about lining his pockets,” said one source close to the investigation, speaking on condition of anonymity. “He exploited the trust placed in him as a public servant, and now he’s paying the price.” Dabusco resigned from his post at the DOB in August 2015, but the investigation continued, ultimately leading to today’s guilty plea before United States District Court Chief Judge Dora L. Irizarry.
Dabusco now faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison, along with the possibility of forfeiture and a hefty fine of up to $250,000. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Martin Coffey of the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Docket number for this case is 16-CR-559 (DLI) in the Eastern District of New York.
The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as sentencing approaches. This is another stark reminder that corruption exists at all levels, and those who abuse their power will be held accountable, no matter their position.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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