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Asbestos Abatement Supervisor Pleads Guilty in False Training Certificate Case
Release Date: 02/12/2004
Contact Information:
Suzanne Ackerman 202-564-7819 / ackerman.suzanne@epa.gov
02/12/2004 - On Jan. 28, Adrian Whaley, Asbestos Abatement Supervisor at Darcco Environmental Inc., in Jacksonville, Fla., pled guilty to conspiring to make a false statement to the EPA regarding asbestos training certification. The conspiracy involved the use of false asbestos training certificates by Darcco employees during asbestos abatement work conducted at U.S. Naval bases in the Jacksonville area. Darcco provided the certificates to its employees, despite knowing that the employees did not attend the asbestos training courses listed on the documents. Darcco received the false certificates from the Air Analytics Company in Orlando, Fla. Three other defendants, Edward Nunez, owner of Air Analytics and an employee of Darcco; Jerry Carter, owner of Darcco; and Eric Brown, a Darcco Asbestos Abatement Supervisor; each previously entered guilty pleas with respect to this case. Failure to properly train asbestos abatement workers and the use of falsified asbestos training documents can lead to workers being exposed to and inhaling airborne asbestos. Inhalation of airborne asbestos is a known cause of lung cancer, the lung disease “asbestosis,” and mesothelioma, cancer of the chest and abdominal cavities. The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Area Office of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division, EPA’s Office of Inspector General, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Office of Inspector General, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Jacksonville.
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