New York asbestos contractors sentenced to record prison terms

In imposing the lengthy terms of incarceration, the judge made the specific finding that the Salvagnos' crimes resulted in the substantial likelihood of death and serious bodily injury to numerous individuals. The sentences handed down in December of 2004 were the longest in federal environmental crimes history.

Nationally renowned experts testified for the United States that most of the 100 worst exposed former AAR workers are almost certain to contract asbestosis, lung cancers and mesothelioma, an invariable deadly form of cancer. The criminal conspiracy involved as many as 500 AAR and Analytical Laboratories workers, who also are at risk. More than a dozen top AAR and Analytical supervisors have pled guilty and remain to be sentenced. Federal agents returned to numerous facilities where AAR had performed purportedly complete asbestos abatement and where ALA had produced passing final air clearance results. The agents found high levels of asbestos remaining at numerous locations, including churches, banks, cafeterias, military housing, 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 and asbestosis, a lung disease that is nearly always fatal. The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos.

Senior U.S. District Court Judge Howard G. Munson presided over the trial of this case, including the sentencing hearing.

The investigation which resulted in this prosecution was conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. 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.