New Haven, CT – A former leasing supervisor for Connecticut and Massachusetts property management giant Carabetta Management Company has been sentenced for federal lead disclosure violations. Sandra Rose Sattler, 56, of Middletown, Connecticut, received six months of probation and a $2,500 fine after pleading guilty to knowingly failing to provide legally required lead-based paint warnings to tenants.
The case, investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), reveals a pattern of negligence and, more seriously, *fraud* within the management of properties like Parkside Apartments and Oakland Gardens Apartments in Meriden, Connecticut. Sattler, as Supervisor of all Leasing Agents, admitted to deliberately withholding crucial information from tenants regarding potential lead paint hazards in units built before 1978.
Federal law, specifically the Lead Hazard Reduction Act and the Lead Disclosure Rule, mandates that landlords and property managers inform prospective tenants about the risks associated with lead-based paint. This includes providing a detailed pamphlet, a disclosure statement detailing any known lead paint presence, and obtaining signed acknowledgements from tenants confirming they received this information. The EPA’s investigation uncovered that Sattler and her team not only failed to provide these disclosures but also submitted falsified documents to HUD, forging tenant signatures to create the illusion of compliance.
Legal Ramifications
Sattler was charged with violating the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), specifically 15 U.S.C. 2615(b), which criminalizes the knowing violation of lead disclosure regulations. This conviction underscores the seriousness with which federal authorities view failures to protect tenants from the dangers of lead poisoning, a particularly acute risk for children. The penalty reflects the deliberate nature of the offenses, going beyond simple oversight to include intentional deception.
Company-Wide Consequences
This sentencing follows a separate agreement reached with Carabetta Management Company in February 2010, where the company agreed to pay a $276,000 penalty for the same violations. The combined penalties – individual and corporate – highlight the scope of the non-compliance and the financial consequences for failing to adhere to environmental and tenant safety regulations. Michael E. Hubbard, Special Agent in Charge of the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division, emphasized the agency’s commitment to prosecuting those who “feign compliance by forging tenants’ signatures.”
Key Facts
- Defendant: Sandra Rose Sattler
- Location: Meriden, Connecticut
- Charge: Violation of the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. 2615(b))
- Sentence: Six months probation and $2,500 fine
- Company Involved: Carabetta Management Company (paid $276,000 penalty)
- Violation: Failure to provide lead-based paint disclosures and forgery of tenant signatures.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Geoffrey M. Stone and Dianne G. Chabot prosecuted the case, demonstrating a concerted effort by federal authorities to enforce lead safety regulations and hold accountable those who put tenants at risk. This case serves as a stark warning to property managers across the country: transparency and compliance with lead disclosure laws are not merely recommended – they are legally mandated and subject to criminal penalties.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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