Owners arrested for allegedly bribing DOB inspectors

Owners allegedly bribed DOB to ignore violations; other allegedly filed plans with forged architect’s signature. In June 2006, the Department of Investigation arrested three Brooklyn property owners for allegedly bribing a Buildings inspector. After an inspector issued a citation and a stop-work order for work at 245 Exeter Street in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, David Safir, the lot’s owner, allegedly offered $3,000 to the Buildings inspector at a follow-up inspection, asking that no additional violations be issued and the stop-work order be dismissed.

Safir allegedly told the inspector that his friend, Gennadiy Bronsteyn, owner of 170 Coleridge Street in Manhattan Beach, faced a similar situation. The inspector met with Bronsteyn and Arkadi Shapiro, who owned 168 Coleridge. The inspector mentioned to Bronsteyn and Shapiro that the homes on the lots failed to comply with the approved plans. Both allegedly offered the inspector $10,000 to issue a C of O anyway; Shapiro later gave the inspector $1,500 as a payment towards the $10,000.

In July, DOI also arrested Dominick G. Brioche, owner of a Brooklyn business called Grid Design Service, for allegedly filing eight sets of plans with Buildings between 2001 and 2005 that included a signature, stamp and license number of an architect that never reviewed the plans.

Indictment hearings are pending.

DOI Press Release, DOI Arrests Three Brooklyn Property Owners For Paying Bribes to City Buildings Inspector, June 28, 2006; DOI Press Release, DOI Arrests Unlicensed Architect for Filing Forged Documents, July 5, 2006.