Feds tracking salvagno asbestos-abatement activities find high levels of asbestos lingering in public facilities

Federal agents returning to numerous facilities where AAR had performed purportedly complete asbestos abatement, and where the company’s lab had produced passing final air clearance results, found high levels of asbestos materials remaining at these locations, including churches, banks, cafeterias, military housing facilities, elementary schools, a children's museum and private residences. Notification by the U.S. Attorney's Offices to all known victims resulted in additional places of contamination being found.

Asbestos has been determined to cause various forms of cancer, including asbestosis and mesothelioma, a disease that is invariably fatal. The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos.

The individuals listed above bring the total to 16 who have been sentenced as part of the Salvagnos' criminal scheme. A single cooperating defendant was sentenced on December 21, 2006, in federal court in Albany, N.Y.

The investigation which resulted in this prosecution was conducted by the 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. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Craig A. Benedict.