Manhattan District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau announced today the indictment of a New York City Department of Buildings inspector on charges of falsifying business records in connection with a crane that subsequently collapsed on the East Side of Manhattan in March.

The defendant, EDWARD J. MARQUETTE, 47, of Manhattan, a former inspector in the Department of Buildings Division of Cranes and Derricks, has been indicted on charges of Tampering with Public Records, Offering a False Instrument for Filing, Falsifying Business Records and Official Misconduct. The crimes in the indictment occurred between January 23 and March 19, 2008.

The defendant was responsible for conducting an inspection of a crane at a construction site at 301 East 51st Street in Manhattan on March 4, 2008. According to the indictment, the defendant made an entry on a form titled “NYC Department of Buildings Division of Cranes and Derricks, Hoist and Rigging Inspector’s Route Sheet” indicating that he had conducted an inspection when he had not. The crane collapsed on March 15, 2008 resulting in the deaths of seven people.

Additionally, the defendant was responsible for inspecting cranes at other locations in Manhattan on January 23 and 30, 2008 in which he also completed false inspector route documentation.

Mr. Morgenthau said, “When it comes to public safety, there can be no short cuts. Our investigation into the crane collapses and related matters will continue in order to insure that the public is safe.”

The defendant is charged with three counts of Tampering with Public Records in the First Degree, a class D felony, three counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a class E felony, three counts of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, a class E felony, and three counts of Official Misconduct, a class A misdemeanor. A class D felony is punishable by up to seven years in prison, a class E felony is punishable by up to four years in prison, and a class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to one year in jail.

Today’s indictment follows the defendant’s arrest on March 19, 2008 as a result of an investigation by the New York City Department of Investigation.  
Assistant District Attorney Sean Sullivan, who is assigned to the District Attorney’s Rackets Bureau, is in charge of this matter under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Eric Seidel, Chief of the Rackets Bureau.

Defendant Information
Edward Marquette, 05/01/1961
432 West 56th Street
New York, New York

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