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TWO MEN PLEAD GUILTY IN CONNECTICUT IN COMPLEX CFC SCHEME
Release Date: 10/19/2001
Contact Information:
FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, OCT. 19, 2001
TWO MEN PLEAD GUILTY IN CONNECTICUT IN COMPLEX CFC SCHEME
Luke C. Hester 202-564-7818 / hester.luke@epa.gov
William Barlen of Madison, Conn. pleaded guilty on Oct. 10 to making a false statement to federal authorities and Alfredo Vega of Hato Rey of Puerto Rico pleaded guilty to conspiracy. The defendants had been engaged with others for three years in a scheme to illegally import highly restricted chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) in the names of several shell entities, plus tax evasion. The scheme involved a $24 million tax fraud, wire fraud and money laundering operation. The importation of CFCs is restricted under the Clean Air Act because the release of CFCs into the atmosphere damages the earth’s ozone layer which protects people from the harmful effects of ultraviolet light such as skin cancer and cataracts and destroys plant life, including crops. Four other individuals, Pavel Perlov of Chelsea, Mass.; Juan Carlos Gorbea of San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Rudi Endres and Alicia Keigwin, both of Berwyn, Pa.; previously pleaded guilty as a result of this investigation and other defendants await trial. When sentenced, Barlen and Vega each face maximum sentences of up to five years in prison and/or fines of up to $250,000. The case was investigated by EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division, the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division and the U.S. Customs Service. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s office in New Haven, Conn. and the Environmental Crimes Section of the U.S. Department of Justice.
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