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Massimo Dabusco of Yorktown, who worked as a New York City Department of Buildings inspector, was sentenced to a term of 18 months in federal prison this week following the guilty plea last May.
According to officials from the United State’s Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York, Dabusco, was as a silent partner to Vito Menadi at A&G Contracting Group, a demolition and excavation company.
While working there, he “used his official position to influence property owners and contractors, over whom Dabusco had regulatory authority, to hire A&G and Menadi to perform excavation and demolition jobs. As part of his efforts to secure business for A&G, Dabusco illegally warned contractors about impending DOB inspections. In exchange for his conduct, Dabusco received a share of A&G’s profits.”
Dabusco also pleaded guilty to using his position as a building inspector to threaten punitive action against contractors and property owners in an effort to benefit Menadi and A&G.
“Public officials, whether elected, appointed, or employed, have a duty to maintain honest and faithful public service,” FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney stated at the time of Dabusco’s arrest. “Using your position to influence the decisions of others, and receiving something of value in return, is a direct violation of the law. As alleged, Dabusco may have tried to build up his business by engaging in corrupt activity, but now he’ll have to answer for his actions.”
“By engaging in extortionate conduct for personal financial gain, Dabusco violated the mission entrusted to him to enforce the New York City building and construction codes honestly and fairly,” United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Richard Donoghue added in a statement. “This Office and our law enforcement partners will remain vigilant in rooting out corruption and prosecuting those, like Dabusco, who abuse their position of public trust.”
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