San Juan, P.R. — In a stunning revelation of negligence on the island’s highways, Fraticelli Trucking Company Inc. has been found guilty of willfully transporting highly radioactive material without conducting mandatory pre-trip inspections. The company pleaded guilty to one count of illegally moving Cobalt 60, a Class 7 radioactive substance, between San Juan and Vega Alta in March 2014.
The Department of Justice’s United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, announced the charges. The incident, which raised serious concerns about public safety, involved Fraticelli Trucking Company Inc.’s failure to comply with Title 49, United States Code, Sections 5105(d), 5124(a) and (c), as well as Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 385.415(b)(1).
According to the Information filed today, Fraticelli Trucking Company Inc., a for-profit corporation, contracted to transport a Highway Route Controlled Quantity of radioactive material within Puerto Rico. Despite having knowledge of the required pre-trip inspections, the company’s representative, Eduardo Fraticelli Alvarado, failed to conduct them on four separate occasions between 2011 and 2014.
Despite the lack of proper inspections, no hazardous materials were released, nor were any deaths or bodily injuries reported. However, U.S. Attorney Rodríguez-Vélez emphasized that ‘Safety inspections involving toxic or hazardous materials are mandatory and vital to the safety of workers and the surrounding communities.’
Marlies T. González, Regional Special Agent-in-Charge for the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, echoed these sentiments: ‘Maintaining the safety and integrity of our public highways remains a top priority,’ she said. ‘We will continue to enforce hazardous materials laws against those who would compromise DOT’s HAZMAT safety program.’
The company now faces up to five years of probation, a fine not exceeding $500,000, and a term of supervised release of three years. The sentencing hearing is yet to be scheduled by U.S. District Judge Francisco A. Besosa. Assistant United States Attorney Seth Erbe is handling the prosecution.
Related Federal Cases
- Attorney General James Warns of Fake Bad Bunny Tickets · Puerto Rico
- Bad Bunny Ticket Scam Targets NY Fans · Puerto Rico
- Haitian Community Targeted: Menard Indicted in $600K Fraud · Puerto Rico
- Fiscal General Warns of Fake Bad Bunny Concert Tickets in NY · Puerto Rico
- Bad Bunny Fans Scammed: NY AG Warns of Fake Tickets · Puerto Rico
Key Facts
- State: Puerto Rico
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News