Two charged in Suffolk County DA probe of East Hampton Town Building Department

Two former employees of the East Hampton Town Building Department surrendered to law enforcement this week after a Suffolk County District Attorney investigation into alleged corruption, East End News reported.

According to the report, prosecutors charged both defendants with five counts of third-degree bribe receiving and five misdemeanor counts of official misconduct. The suspects, identified in reporting as a former building inspector and a former senior administrative clerk, allegedly accepted cash payments from contractors seeking to expedite inspections and permits.

In a statement, Town Supervisor Kathy Burke Gonzales said, "For the past 18 months, this investigation has weighed heavily on our building department staff and on those who rely on the department's services. Through it all, our staff continued to serve the public professionally under very difficult circumstances, and I am grateful to them for that." Her statement was provided to the program as part of the coverage.

The building department is operating under new leadership while the criminal case proceeds. The Suffolk County District Attorney's office brought the charges; the program did not report further details about arraignment dates, the identities of the defendants beyond their prior roles, or any defense statements.

What happens next: criminal proceedings will follow in Suffolk County court. The town has not announced additional administrative actions beyond leadership changes in the building department.