Raj Chopra, Clean Air Act Violation, New York 2023
A Grand Island man and his company were sentenced for violating the Clean Air Act involving asbestos.
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Raj Chopra, 54, of Grand Island, NY, was sentenced to one year of probation for being an accessory after the fact to a false statement under the Clean Air Act. His company, Comprehensive Employee Management, (CEM), was also convicted of making a false statement under the Clean Air Act and was sentenced to one year of probation. In addition, CEM was ordered to pay a $25,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango stated that CEM, an environmental consulting company located at 1815 Love Road on Grand Island, provided consulting services to co-defendant Sean Doctor and his asbestos abatement company, S.D. Specialty Services, LLC.
The investigation found that from December 2009 to January 2010, employees of S.D. Specialty performed asbestos abatement work at the Roosevelt Park Shelter in Buffalo, which was subject to regulations of the Clean Air Act. During the project, S.D. Specialty employees removed asbestos from the Roosevelt Park Shelter and transported the material to a waste container at CEM on Grand Island.
On March 11, 2010, defendants Doctor and CEM executed an asbestos waste manifest which falsely indicated that asbestos had been transported to CEM from the Roosevelt Park Shelter on that date. In truth and in fact, such asbestos had been transported to, and stored at, the Grand Island location prior to March 11, 2010.
Raj Chopra and his company were found guilty of violating the Clean Air Act involving asbestos. Chopra was sentenced to one year of probation, and CEM was ordered to pay a $25,000 fine.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent-In-Charge Tyler Amon, and Investigators of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Police, BECI, under the direction of Captain John Burke.
Mandatory Facts:
- Defendant: Raj Chopra
- Criminal Charges: Accessory after the fact to a false statement under the Clean Air Act
- City and State: Buffalo, NY
- Date: March 11, 2023 (sentencing)
- Sentence: One year probation
- Fine: $25,000
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Environmental Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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