Former Suffolk County Employee From Wading River Pleads Guilty To Accepting Bribes: DA

WADING RIVER, NY — A former Suffolk County employee from Wading RIver pleaded guilty to receiving bribes, District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Brianna Hassett, 33, pleaded guilty to third-degree attempted bribe receiving after accepting bribes and falsifying paperwork for license applications through her employment at the Suffolk County Department of Labor, Licensing and Consumer Affairs, the DA said.

According to the investigation, in late January 2025, Hassett was working as an office assistant in the licensing unit of the Suffolk County Department of Labor, Licensing and Consumer Affairs when, acting in concert with her husband, Esteban Bermudez, she accepted a monetary bribe and falsified an application for a home improvement license, the DA said.

In exchange for a separate cash bribe, Hassett also provided questions and answers to the proficiency examination required for Suffolk County to issue a vocational license, Tierney said.

Hassett admitted to engaging in the criminal acts while acting in concert with Esteban Bermudez, 35, who was not a Suffolk County employee, the DA said.

Hassett and Bermudez were both arrested on February 13, 2025, Tierney said.

Hassett resigned from her employment with Suffolk County on May 14, 2025, the DA said.

On Wednesday, Hassett pleaded guilty to third-degree attempted bribe receiving, a Class E felony, before Acting Supreme Court Justice Steven A. Pilewski, the DA said.

On the same day, Bermudez pleaded guilty to first degree offering a false instrument, the DA said.

Hassett is due back in court for sentencing on May 27, at which time she will be sentenced to 1 ½ to 3 years in prison, the DA said.

She is being represented by Michael Castro, who could not immediately be reached for comment.

Bermudez is due back in court for sentencing on May 27, at which time he will be sentenced to 5 years’ probation, the DA said.

He is represented by Toni Marie Angeli, who could not immediately be reached for comment.

"This defendant’s conduct constitutes an egregious and systematic breach of public trust, as she placed her own greed above her responsibilities as a public official," said Tierney. "My office will continue to have zero tolerance for corruption within any government agency or department."