Bay County Man Sentenced For Perjury

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

McQuade was joined in the announcement by Randall Ashe, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division in Michigan. 

U.S. District Judge Thomas Ludington imposed sentence on Rodolfo Rodriguez, 57.

According to court records, Rodriguez 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.  

Co-defendants Roy Bradley and Gerald Essex have been charged with illegally disturbing and handling asbestos while performing the demolition work on the church.  They are currently scheduled for trial on August 19, 2014, 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.”

 “As with any criminal case, the prosecution of environmental crimes depends on honest answers and testimony,” said Randall Ashe, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Michigan.  “Lying under oath is criminal conduct, and when it’s about removing asbestos illegally, potentially endangering vulnerable children, it’s especially egregious. Today’s sentencing demonstrates that companies and individuals who callously place the American people at risk, then lie about it under oath, will be held accountable.”

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.