In the longest terms of imprisonment in U.S. history for a federal environmental crime, father and son owners of asbestos abatement companies in New York State were sentenced December 23, 2004, in U.S. District Court in Syracuse to 25 years and 19.5 years of imprisonment.
Over the course of 10 years, from 1990 until 1999, Alex Salvagno, 39, and his father Raul Salvagno, 71, conducted illegal asbestos abatement activities at more than 1,550 facilities throughout New York State, including elementary schools, churches, hospitals, military housing, theatres, cafeterias, the New York State Legislature Office Building, public and commercial buildings of all different types and private residences.
The Salvagnos directed the illegal activities of 500 asbestos workers and laboratory officials. As part of the sentencing, Alex Salvagno was ordered to forfeit $2 million to the U.S. government and to pay restitution to their victims in the amount of $23 million. Raul Salvagno was ordered to forfeit $1.7 million to the U.S. government and to pay restitution to their victims in the amount of $22.8 million.
The Salvagno's company operated under the name of AAR Contractor, Inc., one of the largest asbestos abatement companies in New York State. AAR was ordered to forfeit $2 million to the U.S. government and to pay restitution to their victims in the amount of $22.8 million upon convictions for similar crimes.
Alex Salvagno secretly and illegally co-owned a purportedly independent laboratory, Analytical Laboratories of Albany, Inc. (ALA). The Salvagnos used ALA to defraud victims by creating up to 75,000 fake laboratory analysis results used to convince their clients that asbestos had been properly removed. Falsified laboratory samples covered up improper asbestos abatement projects in elementary schools, churches, hospitals, State Police barracks, the New York Legislative Office Building and other public and private buildings and residences.
Instead of following the legal requirements for the proper removal and disposal of asbestos in order to ensure the toxic asbestos fibers were not released into the environment, the Salvagnos used illegal “rip and run” techniques, which former AAR and ALA employees testified to. The improper tactics caused indoor “snow storms,” referring to the release of large, visible asbestos into the air during the illegal asbestos removal.
Asbestos is known to cause various forms of cancer and asbestosis, a lung disease that is almost always fatal. The Environmental Protection Agency has determined there is no safe level of asbestos exposure, and nationally renowned experts testified for the United States at a sentencing hearing that most of the 100 worst exposed former AAR workers are almost certain to contract asbestosis, lung cancers and mesothelioma, a rare and incurable form of cancer that is deadly.
Evidence showed workers were knowingly sent into asbestos “hot zones” and encouraged to work illegally without respirators or without sufficient replacement filters for the respirators. There are as many as 500 AAR and ALA workers at risk for asbestos related illnesses as well. Thirteen highest-level supervisors pleaded guilty to environmental crimes prior to the Salvagno trial and are currently awaiting sentence.
The convictions are the result of collaborative efforts by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Internal Revenue Service, the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division, the New York State Office of Inspector General and the New York State Departments of Labor and Health. Assistant United States Attorney Craig Benedict led the prosecution. According to Thomas V. Skinner, EPA's acting assistant administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, “This criminal case, and the lengthy prison sentences imposed, send a clear message: those who knowingly jeopardize public health will be held fully accountable for their crimes.”
SOURCE:http://www.resource4mesothelioma.com/news/news_nationslargest_asbestos.html
Over the course of 10 years, from 1990 until 1999, Alex Salvagno, 39, and his father Raul Salvagno, 71, conducted illegal asbestos abatement activities at more than 1,550 facilities throughout New York State, including elementary schools, churches, hospitals, military housing, theatres, cafeterias, the New York State Legislature Office Building, public and commercial buildings of all different types and private residences.
The Salvagnos directed the illegal activities of 500 asbestos workers and laboratory officials. As part of the sentencing, Alex Salvagno was ordered to forfeit $2 million to the U.S. government and to pay restitution to their victims in the amount of $23 million. Raul Salvagno was ordered to forfeit $1.7 million to the U.S. government and to pay restitution to their victims in the amount of $22.8 million.
The Salvagno's company operated under the name of AAR Contractor, Inc., one of the largest asbestos abatement companies in New York State. AAR was ordered to forfeit $2 million to the U.S. government and to pay restitution to their victims in the amount of $22.8 million upon convictions for similar crimes.
Alex Salvagno secretly and illegally co-owned a purportedly independent laboratory, Analytical Laboratories of Albany, Inc. (ALA). The Salvagnos used ALA to defraud victims by creating up to 75,000 fake laboratory analysis results used to convince their clients that asbestos had been properly removed. Falsified laboratory samples covered up improper asbestos abatement projects in elementary schools, churches, hospitals, State Police barracks, the New York Legislative Office Building and other public and private buildings and residences.
Instead of following the legal requirements for the proper removal and disposal of asbestos in order to ensure the toxic asbestos fibers were not released into the environment, the Salvagnos used illegal “rip and run” techniques, which former AAR and ALA employees testified to. The improper tactics caused indoor “snow storms,” referring to the release of large, visible asbestos into the air during the illegal asbestos removal.
Asbestos is known to cause various forms of cancer and asbestosis, a lung disease that is almost always fatal. The Environmental Protection Agency has determined there is no safe level of asbestos exposure, and nationally renowned experts testified for the United States at a sentencing hearing that most of the 100 worst exposed former AAR workers are almost certain to contract asbestosis, lung cancers and mesothelioma, a rare and incurable form of cancer that is deadly.
Evidence showed workers were knowingly sent into asbestos “hot zones” and encouraged to work illegally without respirators or without sufficient replacement filters for the respirators. There are as many as 500 AAR and ALA workers at risk for asbestos related illnesses as well. Thirteen highest-level supervisors pleaded guilty to environmental crimes prior to the Salvagno trial and are currently awaiting sentence.
The convictions are the result of collaborative efforts by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Internal Revenue Service, the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division, the New York State Office of Inspector General and the New York State Departments of Labor and Health. Assistant United States Attorney Craig Benedict led the prosecution. According to Thomas V. Skinner, EPA's acting assistant administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, “This criminal case, and the lengthy prison sentences imposed, send a clear message: those who knowingly jeopardize public health will be held fully accountable for their crimes.”
SOURCE:http://www.resource4mesothelioma.com/news/news_nationslargest_asbestos.html
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