BOSTON – A former pesticide manufacturing facility inspector, Paul Ricco, 54, of Springfield, has been sentenced to 24 months of probation for his role in a massive fraud against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The sentence was handed down on March 4, 2015, in U.S. District Court in Springfield.
Ricco pleaded guilty in November 2014 to 15 counts of making false statements. From March 2010 through May 2012, as part of the Producer Establishment Inspection program at the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture, Ricco was responsible for inspecting establishments that produce, sell and/or distribute pesticides. However, he submitted 15 fraudulent reports to the EPA, claiming inspections had taken place when, in reality, they had not.
The false reports were aimed at concealing his failure to perform required environmental inspections. These inspections were crucial for ensuring that pesticide manufacturers were producing and packaging their products safely, a critical concern given the potential harm such substances can pose to both public health and the environment.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Tyler Amon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. EPA Criminal Investigation Division Boston Field Office, announced Ricco’s conviction. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlos A. López was the lead prosecutor in this case.
“The integrity of environmental protection programs is paramount,” said Ortiz. “Ricco’s actions not only compromised these efforts but also endangered public safety and the health of our environment.”
Amon echoed this sentiment, stating that “this sentence serves as a stark reminder of the consequences faced by those who engage in such deceptive practices.”
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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