Two Utica brothers were convicted Friday of environmental violations and fraud relating to their illegal asbestos removal business. The convictions follow a nine day trial in Syracuse federal court. Paul Mancuso and his younger brother Steven join their 71-year old father Lester who pleaded guilty before the trial. A third brother, Ronald, also pleaded guilty in Federal District Court on October 2 to being involved in the illegal dumping of asbestos in open fields in Poland, NY.
The chief remaining threat for asbestos exposure today comes from older buildings that contain asbestos flooring or ceiling tiles, wall insulation or insulation that was used for hot water heating systems. Flooring and pipe insulation in particular can become worn, broken and frayed during decades of exposure and use. When asbestos materials deteriorate they become “friable,” which means that they crumble easily and emit tiny asbestos fibers. Inhaling those fibers can lead to mesothelioma cancer.
Paul Mancuso was convicted of illegal asbestos removal and disposal in 2003, and convicted of insurance fraud related to his business in 2004. At that time he was banned from the asbestos abatement business, according to a spokesman from the U.S. Department of Justice. However he chose to stay in the industry by setting up companies in the name of relatives. His brother Steven, an attorney, prepared fraudulent documents that were an effort to make the business appear legal.
The Mancuso brothers and their workers dumped asbestos in fields of unsuspecting property owners. Work by the illegal firm was done on many buildings in Utica and the carcinogenic rubble was dumped wherever Mancuso and his employees could find a remote, vacant property. According to federal prosecutors, Paul Mancuso also had “enforcers” beat up a former employee who threatened to report him to the Environmental Protection Agency.
The protocol for asbestos removal calls for careful protection in order to avoid workplace exposure. Precautions include breathing apparatus and special clothing or workers, possibly ventilating equipment, watering devices, and so forth. Disposing of it requires a permit, requires that it be wet and double bagged, and that it be deposited in a landfill licensed to accept toxic material. Illegal dumping conducted by an illegitimate company operated by someone who could not legally operate an asbestos abatement company may have led to involvement of the Department of Justice.
Paul Mancuso now faces a maximum possible penalty of 55 years in jail and a fine of $2,750,000. Steve and father Lester Mancuso face a maximum possible penalty of 5 years in jail, and a fine of $250,000. Ronald Mancuso faces a maximum possible penalty of 3 years in jail, and a fine of $250,000. During the trial, Ronald testified against his family members after entering a guilty plea and cooperating with prosecutors.
Two Utica brothers were convicted Friday of environmental violations and fraud relating to their illegal asbestos removal business. The convictions follow a nine day trial in Syracuse federal court. Paul Mancuso and his younger brother Steven join their 71-year old father Lester who pleaded guilty before the trial. A third brother, Ronald, also pleaded guilty in Federal District Court on October 2 to being involved in the illegal dumping of asbestos in open fields in Poland, NY.
The chief remaining threat of asbestos exposure today comes from older buildings that contain asbestos flooring or ceiling tiles, wall insulation or insulation that was used for hot water heating systems. Flooring and pipe insulation in particular can become worn, broken and frayed during decades of exposure and use. When asbestos materials deteriorate they become “friable,” which means that they crumble easily and emit tiny asbestos fibers. Inhaling those fibers can lead to mesothelioma cancer.
Paul Mancuso was convicted of illegal asbestos removal and disposal in 2003, and convicted of insurance fraud related to his business in 2004. At that time he was banned from the asbestos abatement business, according to a spokesman from the U.S. Department of Justice. However he chose to stay in the industry by setting up companies in the name of relatives. His brother Steven, an attorney, prepared fraudulent documents that were an effort to make the business appear legal.
The Mancuso brothers and their workers dumped asbestos in fields of unsuspecting property owners. Work by the illegal firm was done on many buildings in Utica and the carcinogenic rubble was dumped wherever Mancuso and his employees could find a remote, vacant property. According to federal prosecutors, Paul Mancuso also had “enforcers” beat up a former employee who threatened to report him to the Environmental Protection Agency.
The protocol for asbestos removal calls for careful protection in order to avoid workplace exposure. Precautions include breathing apparatus and special clothing or workers, possibly ventilating equipment, watering devices, and so forth. Disposing of it requires a permit, requires that it be wet and double bagged, and that it be deposited in a landfill licensed to accept toxic material. Illegal dumping conducted by an illegitimate company operated by someone who could not legally operate an asbestos abatement company may be what led to involvement of the Department of Justice.
Paul Mancuso now faces a maximum possible penalty of 55 years in jail and a fine of $2,750,000. Steve and father Lester Mancuso face a maximum possible penalty of 5 years in jail, and a fine of $250,000. Ronald Mancuso faces a maximum possible penalty of 3 years in jail, and a fine of $250,000. During the trial, Ronald testified against his family members after entering a guilty plea and cooperating with prosecutors.
This entry was posted
on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 2:50 pm.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.
