MIDTOWN — Two inspectors were charged with falsifying fire safety records, officials announced Thursday.
FDNY city fire prevention inspector Edward Woychowski, 47, lied about inspecting several fire suppression systems, and fire extinguisher servicing company owner Alexandro Rios, 39, defrauded a dozen businesses in Queens and Brooklyn out of about $1,350 by falsely claiming he was licensed to inspect and service their fire extinguishers and suppression systems, according to the New York City Department of Investigation.
“These arrests are part of DOI’s ongoing investigation into fire inspections,” DOI Commissioner Mark Peters said in a statement. “All New Yorkers rely on Fire Department employees and those they license to keep them safe. When they falsify reports and forms, they put us all in danger, and we will arrest them.”
Woychowski, a 15-year veteran with the FDNY who was making $45,312 yearly, lied about conducting at least 18 inspections at buildings in Manhattan and Queens, according to DOI.
Investigators were able to determine he was not at the buildings when he claimed by reviewing his cellphone data and video footage capturing his car at different location than he reported.
Rios, who lives in Freeport and runs the company Fire Safety Corp., was licensed through the FDNY to service portable fire extinguishers through Sept. 28, 2015.
He was not licensed, though, to inspect and clean fire extinguishing systems or commercial ventilation systems.
Rios allegedly defrauded five businesses in Brooklyn and seven in Queens by charging to inspect, service and clean their commercial fire safety systems.
Woychowski, who lives in Flushing, was charged tampering with public records, offering a false instrument for filing and falsifying business records. He faces up to seven years in prison on the top charge.
Rios was charged with scheme to defraud, offering a false instrument for filing, falsifying business records. He is also facing up to seven years on the top charge.
The FDNY has also suspended his license.
Both men were expected to be arraigned in Brooklyn Criminal Court.
The FDNY will re-inspect each of the sites the men defrauded, officials said.
