Former Asbestos Contractor Pleads Guilty To Theft of Federal Program Funds

According to court documents from 2015 to 2017, VICTORIANO and his company, Professional Safety Consultants, LLC, ("PSC") provided asbestos inspections for the Terrebonne Parish School Board ("TPSB") as mandated by the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act ("AHERA").    VICTORIANO submitted 56 invoices to TPSB with fraudulent asbestos laboratory reports including false air monitoring and false asbestos testing reports. VICTORIANO also submitted nine invoices to TPSB for AHERA reports with forged signatures and accreditation information.  As a result, TPSB paid VICTORIANO approximately $212,618.26 to which he was not entitled, in violation  of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(A).

“The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) is designed to protect our schools from hazardous air pollutants”, said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Brooks of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division in Louisiana. “Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that individuals who intentionally violate federal laws will be held responsible for their crimes.”

VICTORIANO faces a maximum term of imprisonment of not more than ten years, a fine of $250,000.00, and up to three years (3) years of supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for December 16, 2020.