Hartford, CT – A Massachusetts-based house painting company, Collegiate Entrepreneurs, Inc., has been sentenced following a federal investigation revealing violations of environmental regulations and subsequent obstruction of justice. The company was penalized for failing to adhere to lead-safe work practices and then attempting to cover up those failures with falsified records.
According to court documents, Collegiate Entrepreneurs, LLC, operating in Connecticut and throughout New England, knowingly disregarded regulations outlined in the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule during the 2015 painting season. These regulations are designed to protect residents, particularly children, from the dangers of lead-based paint exposure during renovation activities. The company routinely performed work on homes known to contain lead-based paint without ensuring proper safety protocols were followed.
The RRP Rule mandates specific procedures, including certified renovator training, on-site supervision, rigorous containment of work areas, and meticulous post-renovation cleaning. Investigators found that Collegiate Entrepreneurs consistently failed to meet these requirements. Instead of complying with the law, the company allegedly allowed its employees to perform renovations without proper training or safety measures, putting homeowners and their families at risk of lead poisoning.
The scheme unraveled when a federal grand jury issued a subpoena for records related to 12 Connecticut jobs involving lead-based paint. An employee of Collegiate Entrepreneurs submitted documentation purporting to show compliance with the RRP Rule. However, a subsequent investigation revealed that at least ten of the twelve records were fraudulent. Signatures of certified renovators were forged, and the documents falsely claimed work had been performed according to required safety standards.
On November 19, 2019, Collegiate Entrepreneurs pleaded guilty to one count of falsification of records, a violation of 18 U.S.C. 1519, and one count of violating the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. 2689. U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny sentenced the company on February 19, 2020, to five years of probation and a $50,000 fine. The company is explicitly prohibited from undertaking any projects involving lead paint remediation while on probation.
Beyond the fine and probationary terms, Collegiate Entrepreneurs was ordered to pay $30,000 in restitution to a homeowner in West Hartford, Connecticut, who was negatively impacted by the company’s negligence. The case highlights the EPA’s commitment to enforcing environmental regulations and holding companies accountable for prioritizing profit over public health and safety. Federal authorities warn that similar violations will be aggressively prosecuted.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Collegiate Entrepreneurs, Inc.
- Location: Connecticut (work performed), Braintree, Massachusetts (company headquarters)
- Year: 2020 (sentencing year, violations occurred in 2015)
- Violations: Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. 2689), Falsification of Records (18 U.S.C. 1519)
- Penalties: Five years probation, $50,000 fine, $30,000 restitution
- Prohibition: Banned from performing lead paint remediation work during probation.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
Related Federal Cases
- Sandra Rose Sattler, Lead Disclosure Fraud, CT 2010 · Connecticut
- Michael S. Flynn, Bid-Rigging and Fraud, CT 2018 · New York
- Justin C. Freeman, Tax Return Filing Fraud, CT 2024 · Connecticut
- David Fondots, Wire Fraud, Massachusetts · Connecticut
- Quattruccis, Meat Inspection Fraud, Rhode Island 2024 · Rhode Island
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
White Collar CrimeWhite Collar CrimeWhite Collar CrimeWhite Collar Crime