Irving, TX – A former regional director of California-based property management company Califco, LLC, Jonathan Isaac Shokrian, was sentenced to federal prison in 2014 for knowingly exposing workers and the public to asbestos during a renovation project in the Dallas area. The case, prosecuted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), highlights a deliberate cost-cutting measure that put profit over safety, resulting in a hazardous situation and substantial penalties.
In 2008, Califco had properly contracted a licensed asbestos abatement company to safely remove the hazardous material from a movie theater within the Crest Plaza Shopping Center in Dallas. However, when faced with renovating an abandoned department store at the Plymouth Park Shopping Center in Irving a year later, Shokrian opted for a significantly cheaper – and illegal – approach. He directed two day laborers to remove asbestos-containing ceiling and floor tiles and mastic, despite being fully aware of the health risks.
Investigators found that Shokrian failed to inform the laborers, or a Califco maintenance worker on site, about the presence of asbestos. While the company provided basic protective gear like masks and respirators, these were demonstrably inadequate to safeguard against asbestos fiber inhalation. Crucially, neither Shokrian nor any other Califco employee notified other tenants of the Plymouth Park Shopping Center that hazardous materials were being disturbed, potentially exposing a wider population.
Dangerous Methods & Evacuation
The situation escalated in February 2009 when the laborers, under Shokrian’s supervision, began using large quantities of gasoline in an attempt to remove the remaining asbestos-containing floor tile mastic. The fumes quickly became overwhelming, prompting a response from the Irving Fire Department. On February 27, 2009, the fire department ordered the evacuation of the Plymouth Park Shopping Center and a portion of a nearby residential neighborhood due to the high concentration of gasoline fumes within the building.
Legal Ramifications & Penalties
Shokrian pleaded guilty in June 2013 to one count of failure to notify under the Clean Air Act, specifically violating 42 U.S.C. 7413(c)(2)(B). He was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison and ordered to pay a $25,000 fine. Califco, represented by its President and CEO, Elias Shokrian, also pleaded guilty to the same offense and was fined $500,000. Both defendants were mandated to cover the costs of medical monitoring for the workers potentially exposed to asbestos.
Key Facts:
- Defendant: Jonathan Isaac Shokrian (Regional Director, Califco, LLC)
- Location: Irving and Dallas, Texas
- Crime: Clean Air Act violation – knowingly exposing workers and the public to asbestos.
- Year: 2014 (sentence imposed)
- Statute Violated: 42 U.S.C. 7413(c)(2)(B)
- Penalties: Shokrian – 12 months + 1 day prison, $25,000 fine; Califco – $500,000 fine, medical monitoring for victims.
- Method: Deliberate use of unqualified labor and failure to adhere to asbestos abatement regulations to cut costs.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the serious consequences of prioritizing profits over public health and environmental safety. The EPA continues to aggressively pursue criminal and civil enforcement actions against those who violate environmental regulations, ensuring accountability and protecting communities from hazardous materials.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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