Report: Crackdown Coming On Alleged Building Inspector Bribery Scheme

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- In what has been described as one of the biggest corruption crackdowns in years, city investigators and local prosecutors plan to issue bribery charges against charge 50 building inspectors and contractors, according to a published report.

As WCBS 880's Marla Diamond reported Monday, the Manhattan District Attorney's office and the city Department of Investigation plan to charge the inspectors and contractors in a scheme that a source told the Daily News has been playing out for years.

It involved a pattern of so-called "give to get," in which inspectors would expedite projects and approve on occupancy certificates in exchange for a fee, the newspaper reported.

The newspaper reported that there are up to 50 allegedly crooked contractors and building inspectors involved. After a yearlong investigation, the newspaper reported, there was enough evidence to accuse a dozen inspectors in the case, the newspaper reported.

Records quoted by the newspaper said that as construction work increased in the city, the number of complaints to the city Department of Buildings increased too.

The NYPD will give the details, the charges and the names of the defendants at a news conference, 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria reported.

Neither the DOI nor the Manhattan DA's office would comment late Monday.