FORMER NEW YORK CITY FIRE PROTECTION INSPECTOR IS SENTENCED ON CHARGES OF GRAND LARCENY BY EXTORTION AND RELATED CHARGES
Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a 50 year-old former New York City Fire Protection Inspector has been sentenced on charges of grand larceny and bribe receiving.
Hassim Mohammed, of 1745 Eastburn Avenue, was found guilty last month of one count Grand larceny in the 2nd degree, a "C" class felony offense, and one count of Bribe receiving in the 3rd degree, a "D" class felony offense.
State Supreme Court Justice Martin Marcus sentenced Mohammed to three years probation, and one hundred and twenty five hours of community service. The People recommended a term of 2 ½ to 7 ½ years imprisonment.
Mohammed, who was on duty as a NYC Fire Protection Inspector, went to 1062 Walton Avenue on December 17, 2002, for a routine building safety inspection, when he noticed other housing violations. The defendant approached the porter, warned him about the possibility of fines and costly repairs, and demanded five hundred dollars to take care of the problem.
The porter referred Mohammed to the building’s owner, who contacted the Department of Investigations (DOI). Investigators from DOI promptly launched an investigation. On December 23, 2002, investigators arranged a meeting between the building owner and the defendant. The owner wore a recording device and was supplied with pre-recorded "buy money". After the defendant showed the owner the violations in the basement, he demanded five hundred dollars to make the problems go away. The owner gave Mohammed the money and the defendant was arrested as he left the building.
Assistant District Attorney’s Kristen Bowes and James Goward of the Rackets Bureau prosecuted this case.
 |