Former New York City Buildings Inspector Pleads Guilty To Extortion
On Tuesday, Massimo Dabusco, also known as “Max,” pled guilty at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, New York, to conspiracy to commit extortion.
According to court filings and facts presented during the plea proceeding, Dabusco was formerly
an Inspector with the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) and a silent partner in a business, A&G Contracting Group Corp. (A&G), a demolition and excavation company.
The plea was announced by Bridget M. Rohde, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Mark G. Peters, Commissioner New York City Department of Investigation (DOI).
According to court filings, between December 2013 and June 2015, Dabusco abused his position as a DOB Inspector by threatening punitive action against contractors and property owners in an effort to benefit A&G.
In one instance, Dabusco threatened to use his authority at the DOB to shut down all of a contractor’s existing jobs if the contractor did not pay outstanding fines owed by A&G.
Dabusco also unlawfully warned contractors about impending DOB inspections in an effort aid another contractor.
Dabusco resigned his job as a DOB Inspector in August 2015.
Tuesday’s plea took place before United States District Court Chief Judge Dora L. Irizarry.
When sentenced, Dabusco faces up to 20 years in prison, as well as forfeiture and a fine of up to $250,000.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section.
Assistant United States Attorney Martin Coffey is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants :
On Tuesday, Massimo Dabusco, also known as “Max,” pled guilty at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, New York, to conspiracy to commit extortion.
According to court filings and facts presented during the plea proceeding, Dabusco was formerly
an Inspector with the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) and a silent partner in a business, A&G Contracting Group Corp. (A&G), a demolition and excavation company.
The plea was announced by Bridget M. Rohde, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Mark G. Peters, Commissioner New York City Department of Investigation (DOI).
According to court filings, between December 2013 and June 2015, Dabusco abused his position as a DOB Inspector by threatening punitive action against contractors and property owners in an effort to benefit A&G.
In one instance, Dabusco threatened to use his authority at the DOB to shut down all of a contractor’s existing jobs if the contractor did not pay outstanding fines owed by A&G.
Dabusco also unlawfully warned contractors about impending DOB inspections in an effort aid another contractor.
Dabusco resigned his job as a DOB Inspector in August 2015.
Tuesday’s plea took place before United States District Court Chief Judge Dora L. Irizarry.
When sentenced, Dabusco faces up to 20 years in prison, as well as forfeiture and a fine of up to $250,000.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section.
Assistant United States Attorney Martin Coffey is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants :
MASSIMO DABUSCO
Age: 54
Yorktown Heights, New York
Source: FBI Press Release
Age: 54
Yorktown Heights, New York
Source: FBI Press Release