Guido A Cortes-Rodriguez, Making A False Statement, Connecticut 2017

Hartford, CT – A Connecticut man was sentenced to probation and home confinement for a scheme to fraudulently issue asbestos and lead abatement certifications, putting the public at risk and violating federal regulations. Guido A Cortes-Rodriguez, formerly a training manager at North Star Center For Human Development, pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement to the federal government in December 2016 and received sentencing in November 2017.

According to court documents, Cortes-Rodriguez was responsible for overseeing and conducting courses required for individuals seeking certification to perform or supervise asbestos and lead abatement activities in Connecticut. These courses are heavily regulated, requiring a 40-hour initial training for asbestos abatement supervisors and a 32-hour course for lead abatement workers. North Star Center For Human Development was an approved provider of these courses, authorized by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) and aligned with federal standards set by the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

The fraudulent activity came to light when an undercover FBI agent, posing as a prospective lead abatement worker, investigated the legitimacy of North Star’s training. The agent discovered that despite registering and paying $1,260 for a course, no actual training was being conducted. Cortes-Rodriguez, however, willingly accepted the payment and provided the agent with fully-fledged certifications – for asbestos abatement supervision, lead abatement work, and even an OSHA 10-hour construction safety course – despite the agent having attended no classes or completed any examinations. The certificates appeared legitimate, bearing official numbers and meeting state and federal requirements.

Investigators later determined that Cortes-Rodriguez had engaged in this practice on multiple occasions, issuing fraudulent certifications to individuals who hadn’t earned them. This raised serious concerns about public safety, as unqualified individuals could potentially perform hazardous abatement work, exposing themselves and others to dangerous toxins. Tyler C. Amon, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division in New England, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that those who “cheat and provide false certificates… pose too great a risk to the public health.”

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Key Facts

Defendant: Guido A Cortes-Rodriguez
Crime: Making false statements to the federal government (18 U.S.C. 1001)
Location: Hartford, Connecticut
Victim: The public, through the issuance of fraudulent safety certifications
Sentence: Two years of probation, with the first six months served under home confinement, and 160 hours of community service.
Agencies Involved: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations, and the CT DPH.

Cortes-Rodriguez was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny to two years of probation, with the first six months to be served under home confinement. He was also ordered to complete 160 hours of community service. The case was a joint effort by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division, the Office of Inspector General, the FBI, and Homeland Security Investigations, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anastasia E. King and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Kenyon. The violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001, making false statements to the federal government, carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison and a fine, although Cortes-Rodriguez received a more lenient sentence given the circumstances and his guilty plea.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of rigorous oversight in industries dealing with hazardous materials and the potential consequences of prioritizing profit over public safety. Authorities continue to prioritize enforcement actions against training providers who compromise the integrity of certification programs, ensuring that individuals working with lead and asbestos are adequately prepared to protect themselves and the communities they serve.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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