East Hampton Town Workers Charged with Bribery in Permit Fast-Tracking Scheme
Two town workers in East Hampton, New York, have been charged with accepting cash bribes to expedite building permits. Ryan Benitez, a building inspector, and Evelyn Calderon, a senior office assistant, allegedly received over $16,000 from contractors to bypass the standard approval process. The scheme, which took place between June 2024 and January 2025, was uncovered following an internal investigation by East Hampton officials. Both Benitez and Calderon have pleaded not guilty to charges of bribe receiving and official misconduct.