ConDig (26-Oct-17).  The New York City Department of Investigation (DOI) has arrested 14 people in connection with three construction fraud schemes in the New York borough of Brooklyn.

One of the cases centered around several corrupt property owners allegedly paying off a pair of inspectors from the Department of Buildings (DOB) to avoid code violations on construction sites.

In one instance, certified asbestos investigator Alexander Kogan allegedly charged $1,00 to $3,500 to generate fraudulent asbestos reports to property managers and developers.

Another defendant, Yoel Roth worked to refer property owners and contractors to Kogan through his demolition company, Presco. Roth allegedly took cuts of the proceeds from the illegal asbestos scheme by inflating Kogan’s investigation costs to property owners, according to authorities.

Property managers and developers Lawrence Berlianshik and Yehuda Unger were also charged in the asbestos case.

The probe also uncovered cases of building inspectors allegedly taking bribes to approve permits.

DOB construction inspector Hiram Beza was accused of issuing favorable construction inspections to multiple property owners and managers in exchange for cash payoffs and various home renovations, including the construction of a brand new kitchen in his home.

Another inspector, Dean Mulzac, took free jewelry from a property manager who also owned a jewelry store in return for passing the property manager’s inspection, according to the DOI’s investigation.

In a third case, a licensed master plumber Henry Samuels filed fraudulent permits with the City that allowed unlicensed individuals to work on the properties in return for a fee of between $1,500 and $2,500 per permit.

The criminal cases stemmed from the DOI’s monitoring of court-ordered wiretaps related to another investigation with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office earlier this year.

“These arrests again demonstrate the enduring link between integrity and safety that DOI has traced over its many construction-related investigations,” said Commissioner Mark G. Peters.

“Taking a bribe and looking the other way on inspections, falsifying inspection reports, and trading a license for cash, all compromise the integrity of construction projects and endanger workers and residents.”