BAY CITY, MI – A Bay County man has been sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for providing false testimony to a grand jury investigating illegal asbestos removal, according to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. Rodolfo Rodriguez, 57, was sentenced on June 17, 2014, by U.S. District Judge Thomas Ludington.
The case originated from an investigation into the demolition of a former church building in Bay City, which was undergoing renovations to become a school for the Bay City Academy. Investigators uncovered evidence that asbestos, a known hazardous material, was illegally disturbed and handled during the demolition process. Roy Bradley and Gerald Essex, identified as co-defendants, face charges related to the improper handling of the asbestos.
Rodriguez was subpoenaed to testify before the grand jury examining the asbestos removal. Court records indicate he knowingly provided false statements regarding the circumstances surrounding the illegal disturbance of the hazardous material. The EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division, working in conjunction with the Internal Revenue Service, spearheaded the investigation, highlighting the agency’s commitment to pursuing environmental crimes and ensuring truthful testimony in related legal proceedings.
“Our criminal justice system depends upon witnesses to provide truthful information,” stated U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade. “Witnesses who lie to a grand jury commit a serious crime that will be prosecuted.” Randall Ashe, Special Agent in Charge of the EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Michigan, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the severity of obstructing justice in a case involving potential public health risks.
Ashe specifically noted the heightened danger posed by the illegal asbestos removal, given the intended use of the renovated building as a school. “Lying under oath is criminal conduct, and when it’s about removing asbestos illegally, potentially endangering vulnerable children, it’s especially egregious,” he said. The sentence, he asserted, sends a clear message that individuals who prioritize profit over public safety and then attempt to conceal their actions through perjury will be held accountable.
Rodriguez was initially charged on August 21, 2013, with violating 18 U.S.C. § 1623(a), which prohibits knowingly making false statements to a grand jury. He subsequently pleaded guilty on February 27, 2014. A conviction under this statute carries a potential maximum sentence of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The prosecution was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Bay City, Michigan.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Rodolfo Rodriguez, 57, of Bay County, Michigan
- Crime: Perjury – providing false testimony to a federal grand jury
- Statute Violated: 18 U.S.C. § 1623(a)
- Sentence: 21 months of incarceration
- Co-defendants: Roy Bradley and Gerald Essex (charged with illegal asbestos handling)
- Investigation: Conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Internal Revenue Service
- Timeline: Charged 8/21/2013, Pleaded Guilty 2/27/2014, Sentenced 6/17/2014
GrimyTimes will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments regarding the co-defendants and the environmental violations at the Bay City Academy site.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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