RICHARD ZAGGER, a supervisor for Northridge Construction Corporation, pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy and three charges of obstruction in connection with a workplace death in New York.
The crime occurred on December 8, 2018, when an employee fell from the improperly secured shed roof and died at Northridge Construction Corporation’s property in East Patchogue, Long Island, New York.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigated the employee’s death and violations of worker safety standards. Among other worker safety standards, OSHA regulations require maintaining the stability of a metal structure at all times during construction.
Zagger made false statements and conspired with others to make false statements to obstruct the federal agency’s inquiry, according to the indictment.
The maximum penalty for the conspiracy count and each obstruction count is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the economic gain to the defendant or loss suffered by the victim because of the crime.
Northridge Construction Corporation is also facing consequences for its role in the fatal incident. The corporation previously pleaded guilty to violating a worker safety standard causing the death of one of its employees and to making two false statements that obstructed OSHA’s investigation.
A sentencing hearing for Richard Zagger is scheduled for October 16.
The Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General investigated the case, and Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Environment and Natural Resources Division made the announcement.
Senior Trial Attorneys Daniel Dooher and Richard J. Powers and Trial Attorney Rachel Roberts of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section are prosecuting the case.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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