Inspector of cranes faces bribe charges

A senior New York City building official allegedly signed off on crane inspections he didn’t perform and helped crane operators cheat on licensing exams in exchange for thousands of dollars in bribes, but his actions do not appear to be connected to two recent fatal crane collapses, authorities said.

James Delayo, acting chief inspector of the Department of Buildings’ cranes and derricks unit, was free without bail. He is charged with receiving bribes, tampering with public records, falsifying business records, filing a false instrument and receiving unlawful gratuities. He entered no plea.