In a scandal that has rocked the affluent community of East Hampton, two municipal employees have been accused of taking bribes to expedite building permits, according to recent statements from prosecutors. The workers, identified as Ryan Benitez, a 37-year-old Town Building Inspector, and Evelyn Calderon, a 46-year-old senior office assistant, allegedly accepted over $16,000 from contractors looking to bypass the typically lengthy approval process.

Prosecutors from Suffolk County have revealed that Benitez and Calderon engaged in this illicit activity by receiving cash payments from four unnamed contractors. In return, they fast-tracked permits and certificates of occupancy, reducing a process that usually takes months to just a few hours, provided the price was right. This clandestine operation reportedly took place over five transactions from June 2024 to January 2025.

Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney expressed his disapproval of the scheme, emphasizing the importance of integrity among public officials. “Public servants are expected to act with honesty and fairness in the course of their duties,” Tierney stated. “The law is meant to be administered equitably for everyone, not manipulated by the corrupt actions of those who are unjustly enriched by accepting cash bribes.”