Syracuse (WSYR-TV) – Two Utica brothers were convicted Friday of environmental violations and fraud relating to their illegal asbestos removal business. The convictions follow a nine day trial in Syracuse federal court.
46-year old Paul Mancuso and 38-year old Steven join their 71-year old father Lester who pleaded guilty before the trial. A third brother, Ronald, also pleaded guilty in Federal District Court on October 2 to being involved in the illegal dumping of asbestos in open fields in Poland, NY. The family is from Utica.
Paul was previously convicted of illegal asbestos removal and disposal in 2003, and convicted of insurance fraud related to his business in 2004. As a result, the U.S. Department of Justice says Paul was banned from doing any asbestos abatement work.
The DOJ says Paul set up companies in the names of relatives with the help of his brother Steven, who is a lawyer. Steven prepared fraudulent documents in an effort to make the asbestos activities appear legal.
Paul, Ronald, and their workers dumped asbestos in fields of unsuspecting property owners. The DOJ also says Paul also had “enforcers” beat up a former employee who threatened to report him to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Paul Mancuso now faces a maximum possible penalty of 55 years in jail and a fine of $2,750,000. Steve and Lester Mancuso face a maximum possible penalty of 5 years in jail, and a fine of $250,000. Ronald Mancuso faces a maximum possible penalty of 3 years in jail, and a fine of $250,000.
