Two men were sentenced last week in U.S. District Court, Syracuse, New York for more than 19 years of imprisonment, following their convictions for crimes related to illegal asbestos removal activities throughout New York State.

Alex Salvagno, 39 years old of Loudon, New York, received 25 years and his father, Raul Salvagno, 71, of Ormond Beach, Florida, received 19 1/2 years of imprisonment.

The jail sentences imposed upon the Salvagnos today are the longest terms of imprisonment ever imposed in the United States for criminal violations of Federal law designed to protect the environment.

As part of the sentencing, Alex Salvagno was further ordered to forfeit $2,033,457.70 to the United States of America, and to pay restitution to their victims in the amount of $23,039,607. Raul Salvagno was further ordered to forfeit $1,707,156.40 to the United States of America and to pay restitution to their victims in the amount of $22,875,575.46.

The Salvagnos operated their asbestos abatement company under the name of AAR Contractor, Inc. (hereinafter AAR), and AAR was also ordered to forfeit $2,033,457.70 to the United States of America and to pay restitution to their victims in the amount of $22,875,567.46 upon convictions for similar crimes, the Department of Justice said.

The defendants were convicted of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act or “RICO;” conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act and the Toxic Substances Control Act; and violations of the Clean Air Act. In addition, Alex Salvagno was charged with three counts of tax fraud, all related to a ten-year illegal asbestos removal scheme. The jury concluded that as part of the RICO charge, the defendants committed multiple acts of obstruction of justice, money laundering, mail fraud, and bid rigging.

The defendants were the owners of AAR, one of the largest asbestos abatement companies in New York State.

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.

(via U.S. Department of Justice)