Hudson County Fire Inspector Pleads Guilty to Accepting Bribes for Assisting Prostitution Businesses

The former fire inspector in Jersey City admitted in federal court Wednesday that he tipped off prostitution businesses to impending police activity in exchange for money.

Phillip Procaccino, 56, of Belleville, pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to obstruct, delay and affect interstate commerce by extortion under color of official right before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden in federal court in Newark.

Procaccino admitted to providing Jersey City businesses that were promoting prostitution with certificates of occupancy and advance notice of inspections or law enforcement activity, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney General Paul Fishman’s office.

During his plea, Procaccino admitted to accepting a $2,500 bribe on Oct. 23, 2013, in exchange for obtaining a certificate of occupancy for a massage parlor that also operated as a prostitution business.

“Procaccino also offered to provide notice of impending inspections from Jersey City authorities so the owner and employees could preemptively hide evidence of prostitution,” Fishman said.

The fire inspector also engaged in illicit activity with a second Jersey City prostitution business. In his statement, Procaccino admitted to taking 10 percent of the business’ profits in exchange for a certificate of occupancy. Procaccino also agreed to warn the owners of any police activity targeting the business, providing one day’s advance notice of any police visits or inspections.

Procaccino could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. He is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 23.

The investigation was conducted by special agents of the FBI’s Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford, and criminal investigators from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vikas Khanna and Amy Luria of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Division in Newark tried the case. All were commended for their work in bringing Procaccino to justice.