A former safety consultant company director has been sentenced to five years probation with eight months of home detention over charges of theft of federal funding relating to asbestos removal. He was also ordered to pay $212,618 in restitution and an additional $100 in fees.
Between 2015 and 2017, Marc Victoriano of Covington, Louisiana, and his company, Professional Safety Consultants, undertook asbestos inspections for the Terrebonne Parish School Board, under mandate by the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act.
It was heard in court that Mr Victoriano submitted 56 invoices to the school board, along with fraudulent asbestos testing reports. He also submitted nine invoices to the board for asbestos act reports with forged signatures and accreditation information.
He was paid more than $210,000 to which he was not entitled.
“Financial Crime is a despicable felony that impacts many citizens, said U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
“However, this scheme to defraud Terrebonne Parish Schools, that placed students and staff in a potentially dangerous situation and financially victimized taxpayers, exponentially aggravated this crime.
“Our office commits to continue our local, state and federal partnerships to seek justice for our community, especially our most vulnerable populations.”
“The defendant was responsible for the safe and legal removal of material containing asbestos,” said Christopher Brooks, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Louisiana.
“The defendant knowingly ignored regulations on the safe management of asbestos, putting workers, the general public, and most alarmingly school children, at risk. This resulted in the Terrebonne Parish (Louisiana) School Board being defrauded out of $212,618.”