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Former Brookhaven Official Sentenced in Corruption Case

By BRUCE LAMBERT Published: June 13, 2006
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In the latest crackdown on corruption in Suffolk County, a judge on Monday sentenced the former chief building inspector of Brookhaven to prison for two and a half years to seven and a half years and ordered him to forfeit $150,000 for improperly enriching himself, mostly through his government position. An acting State Supreme Court justice, Michael F. Mullen, imposed the penalties on the former official, Vincent Dragone, 49, of Manorville, in Suffolk County Court in Riverhead.

Last month, Mr. Dragone pleaded guilty to various schemes like profiting by $100,000 as the secret partner in construction projects, using a town worker as a baby sitter and cheating a club of prizes that included a baseball autographed by Derek Jeter. Prosecutors said that Mr. Dragone took in more money and goods than anyone else in the recent scandals involving public officials in the town. The scandals and subsequent investigations have resulted in political upheaval for Brookhaven. In last November's elections, public outrage enabled Democrats to wrest control of the supervisor's post and of the town board from the Republicans for the first time since the Watergate era.

The upset was a major political prize. With 480,000 residents, Brookhaven is the most populous community in Suffolk County. Brookhaven is also Long Island's fastest-growing town. Its building department is essential to developers and contractors who need construction permits, inspections and certificates of occupancy. "For years, Dragone looted the taxpayers of Brookhaven Town, soliciting bribes and favors from anyone trying to do businesses with the town building department," said the new town supervisor, Brian X. Foley. "And he was part and parcel of a political machine that looted this town for 45 years." The 58 charges to which Mr. Dragone pleaded guilty included grand larceny, receiving bribes and unlawful gratuities, perjury, money laundering and conspiracy. In his plea, he took 90 minutes to acknowledge all the charges. Among them, he admitted accepting free or greatly discounted work and goods for his 5,000-square-foot home, including bricks, paving blocks, cabinetry, excavation and flooring. He also pressured builders to make political donations, borrowed $12,000 that was never repaid, took $5,000 in cash and manipulated a contest sponsored by a high school booster club to win the prizes, which included trips to Las Vegas and the Caribbean. After 20 years in the buildings agency, Mr. Dragone was suspended last spring from his $86,000-a-year post as the investigation unfolded and was later terminated. The town's new supervisor, Mr. Foley, appointed new administrators to run the building agency, adopted new procedures and called in state auditors to help monitor its operations.
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