Ex-New York City Crane Inspector Admits Taking Bribes

New York City’s former chief crane inspector admitted taking more than $10,000 in payoffs to fake inspection and crane operator licensing exam results, selling out a 26-year career bit by bit over nearly a decade.

James Delayo pleaded guilty to receiving bribes and read a short statement in court acknowledging his crimes in a case that helped raise questions about the city’s oversight of construction and spurred changes to improve crane safety.

He was arrested after the second of two huge cranes collapsed, killing nine people, in 2008. The charges against him weren’t tied to the collapses; authorities portrayed the case as one in a series to go after builders accused of shortchanging safety for profit.