East Hampton Town Workers Charged with Accepting Bribes to Expedite Permits
Two town workers in East Hampton, New York, have been charged with accepting cash bribes to expedite building permits, according to Suffolk County prosecutors. Ryan Benitez, a town building inspector, and Evelyn Calderon, his senior office assistant, allegedly received over $16,000 from contractors to bypass the standard months-long approval process. The scheme reportedly involved five transactions between June 2024 and January 2025. Calderon would allegedly receive the bribes and then contact Benitez to fast-track the permits, sometimes completing the process within hours. The illicit activities were uncovered following an internal investigation by East Hampton officials, which began in October 2024. Benitez has since resigned, while Calderon was suspended without pay for 30 days and is currently on paid leave. Both have pleaded not guilty and are scheduled to appear in court on May 21.