BROOKLYN — A former Department of Buildings inspector who received kickbacks from a demolition company was charged with extortion Wednesday, federal prosecutors said.
Buildings inspector Massimo Dabusco, 54, was paid by A&G Contracting Group Corp owner Vito Menadi, 43, to garner business for the demolition company and help them avoid DOB violations, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
During his two- year tenure as an inspector from 2013 and 2015, Dabusco bullied property owners into hiring A&G by threatening to issue "stop work orders," forced contractors to pay A&G's outstanding fines and warned A&G about upcoming DOB inspections, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
"When I have loyalty with somebody, I have loyalty," Dabusco told Menadi, who rewarded him with a share of the company's profits, according to the criminal complaint.
Both men were charged with extortion in Brooklyn Federal Court on Wednesday and could face up to 20 years in prison, prosecutors said.
Menadi's attorney Michael Padden declined to comment and Dabusco's attorney was not immediately available.