Leonard, DeFranzo and Mineo are all charged with crimes related to their alleged involvement in the manipulation of DOB records on the home owned by DeFranzo's mother. DeFranzo faces two counts of bribery in the third degree and attempted criminal possession of a forged instrument for his alleged role in trying to obtain a "blind" inspector to issue a false certificate of occupancy and approval on the plans. Leonard is charged with tampering with public records in the first degree, offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree and two counts of official misconduct for allegedly retaining the corrupt inspector and attempting to hide and destroy the files. Then chief construction inspector for Queens Mineo is charged with bribe receiving in the third degree, official misconduct and receiving unlawful gratuities for allegedly taking cash and gift certificates to sign-off on the DeFranzo house.

Mineo is also charged with another count of receiving unlawful gratuities for allegedly taking theater tickets for issuing violations on another house in Queens.

"This case represents the fourth major corruption scandal in the New York City DOB within the past decade alone," commissioner Kuriansky says in a released statement issued following the announcement. "While the earlier probes exposed widespread misconduct in the construction, plumbing and elevator inspection divisions of DOB, this two-year joint investigation has yielded disturbing evidence of a more pervasive culture of corruption that resides both within and without the department and extends, regrettably, to licensed professionals, expeditors and, now, even to commissioner-level personnel.

"Dramatic change," he concludes, "is required to cleanse and professionalize this agency and to assure the public that its buildings will be safely, speedily and honestly constructed and maintained."

GlobeSt.com will update this story as it continues to unfold.