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NEW YORK CONSULTANT INDICTED ON ASBESTOS AND MAIL FRAUD CHARGES

Release Date: 03/16/2001
Contact Information:


FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2001
NEW YORK CONSULTANT INDICTED ON
ASBESTOS AND MAIL FRAUD CHARGES

Luke C. Hester 202-564-7818 / hester.luke@epa.gov


Eric Beeche of Slingerlands, N.Y., was indicted on March 7 and arrested on March 9 for allegedly conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act and also on two counts of mail fraud. The indictment alleges that Beeche, an air monitoring consultant on asbestos abatement projects, knowingly created and submitted false air monitoring reports on projects for which he took no samples. Failing to properly monitor air during asbestos abatement projects can expose workers to the inhalation of asbestos fibers which can cause lung cancer, a lung disease known as “asbestosis” and mesothelioma which is a cancer of the chest and abdominal cavities. If convicted on all charges, Beeche faces a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison and/or fines of up to $750,000. The case was investigated by EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Syracuse. An indictment is merely an accusation and all individuals are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in a court of law.

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