April 11, 2026 · Updated April 17, 2026
Two East Hampton Building Department employees — a senior office assistant and a building inspector — were indicted April 2 on charges they took $16,100 in cash bribes to fast-track permits and inspections for contractors, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney.
Two East Hampton Town Building Department workers were indicted last week on charges they ran a cash-for-permits scheme, taking $16,100 in bribes from contractors in exchange for jumping the line on building permits and inspections. Suffolk County DA Raymond Tierney announced the charges April 2, 2026.
Evelyn Calderon, 46, of Mastic, worked as a senior office assistant in the East Hampton Building Department. Ryan Benitez, 37, of East Hampton, worked as a building inspector. According to prosecutors, they didn't work alone — they worked together.
The DA's Public Corruption Squad says the scheme went like this: a contractor paid Calderon cash to jump the permit queue. She'd then cut Benitez in — passing him half the bribe, sometimes the same day, sometimes within minutes. Benitez would then schedule and complete the inspection fast, and the permit would be issued within days instead of months.
Both defendants face the same 10-count indictment:
The five bribery counts correspond to five separate incidents, with individual bribe amounts ranging from $1,500 to $6,000. The total across all five: $16,100.
Calderon and Benitez surrendered to the DA's office on April 2 and were arraigned the same day. Both were released on their own recognizance — the charges are not bail-eligible under state law. Their next court date is May 21, 2026. If convicted on the top count, each faces 2⅓ to 7 years in prison.
Building permits in East Hampton — and across Long Island — are typically processed in chronological order. Homeowners and contractors submit an application and wait their turn. That queue can stretch for months, especially in a town as busy with construction as East Hampton.
According to the DA's indictment, Calderon had the power to jump that line. She allegedly took cash payments and then prioritized the paying contractor's application over everyone else's. Once Benitez got his cut, he'd fast-track the inspection. A process that normally drags for months was done in days.
Prosecutors say the scheme ran through 2024. The investigation was conducted by the DA's Public Corruption Squad.
If you paid for legitimate work in East Hampton and waited months for a permit during 2024, there's a straightforward reason your application may have moved slowly: others were allegedly paying to skip you in line.
A bigger question is what happens to the permits already issued during the alleged scheme period. The DA's announcement does not address whether any permits will be reviewed or revoked. Neither does it name any of the contractors who allegedly paid the bribes — those individuals could face separate charges down the line.
For now, the town has suspended Calderon. Benitez, described in court papers as a former building inspector, no longer works for East Hampton.
The East Hampton Building Department has had a rough few years. The department has faced repeated complaints about processing backlogs, staff turnover, and — now — this. This indictment is the first to result in criminal charges, but the DA's investigation began in 2024 and may not be finished.
Suffolk County DA Raymond Tierney has made public corruption a priority. His office has pursued cases involving local government employees, elected officials, and contractors across the county. This case fits that pattern.
"Building officials hold positions of public trust," the DA's office said in its announcement. "When they use that trust to line their own pockets, they undermine the integrity of every homeowner and contractor who follows the rules."
Calderon and Benitez are due back in court May 21, 2026. The investigation is ongoing. If you believe a contractor may have used a bribe to obtain a permit for work on your property — or if you have information about the scheme — the DA's Public Corruption tip line is 631-853-4626.
For context on how Long Island's building permit process is supposed to work, the New York State Department of State oversees the uniform code used by local departments. Suffolk County's Consumer Affairs office also handles contractor licensing complaints.
Related reading on LI Daily: Middle Country Road in Suffolk County Keeps Getting Worse as Potholes Cause Daily Crashes in Selden and Centereach — another look at how local government failures hit everyday residents.
