Rodolfo Rodriguez, Perjury, Michigan 2014

State: Michigan
Category: White Collar Crime
Source: <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmi/pr/bay-county-man-sentenced-perjury" style="color:#cc0000;" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">DOJ Press Release ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Â Ã¢â‚¬â€

BAY CITY, Mich. – A Bay County man was sentenced to 21 months in prison for committing perjury before a federal grand jury, announced U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade on June 17, 2014.

Rodolfo Rodriguez, 57, was called to testify before a grand jury investigating asbestos-related crimes and knowingly provided false testimony regarding the illegal removal of asbestos from a church, which was being converted to a school used by the Bay City Academy.

According to court records, Rodriguez was charged with perjury for lying under oath about the asbestos removal. Co-defendants Roy Bradley and Gerald Essex have been charged with illegally disturbing and handling asbestos while performing the demolition work on the church.

The case was investigated by special agents of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Internal Revenue Service. The prosecution is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Bay City, Michigan.

"Our criminal justice system depends upon witnesses to provide truthful information," McQuade said. "Witnesses who lie to a grand jury commit a serious crime that will be prosecuted."

Rodriguez’s sentencing demonstrates the seriousness of perjury charges and the importance of truthful testimony in environmental crimes cases. The EPA will continue to investigate and prosecute individuals who commit environmental crimes.

U.S. District Judge Thomas Ludington imposed the 21-month sentence on Rodriguez.

Rodriguez’s case highlights the need for individuals to provide accurate and truthful testimony in environmental crimes cases. The EPA and U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work together to prosecute individuals who commit environmental crimes and lie to grand juries.

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