More Sentences in Albany Asbestos Scandal

December 6, 2006 - On Monday, five more individuals were sentenced by a U.S. District Court for their role in what most consider the largest asbestos removal scandal ever carried out in United States history.

Previously to this week’s sentencing, the owners of Albany-based AAR Contractors, Inc., Alex and Raul Salvagno, the main players in the scandal, were ordered to pay more than $20 million in restitution to the victims who were affected by their scam.

Alex Salvagno, reports the Albany Record, secretly co-owned Analytical Laboratories of Albany (ALA), which was fronted as an independent lab but instead created fraudulent lab results to make it seem as if buildings had significant asbestos problems.

The Salvagno’s scam continued from 1990-1999.  They were accused of conducting many “rip and run” removals, where asbestos was haphazardly torn from pipes, ceilings, floors, etc. and often left in the building in which they were performing the abatement.  This created a high risk of exposure for anyone who entered the buildings in question.  Furthermore, AAR Contractors’ employees were rarely supplied with protective gear to prevent their exposure to the hazardous material.  The court estimates that approximately 1,500 buildings in the area were affected by the scandal.

Alex and Raul Salvagno were tried for their crimes in 2004.  Alex is currently serving a 25-year sentence in federal prison.  Raul, his father, was sentenced to 19 years. 

The five individuals who were sentenced this week were given leniency for their cooperation with the authorities.  The Albany Record reports their sentences as follows:

• Timothy Carroll, 44, of Albany, was the public owner of ALA and was sentenced Monday to 26 months in federal prison, 200 hours of community service and to pay more than $20 million in restitution. He had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the clean air act and to commit mail fraud.
• Gary Alvord, 40, of Niskayuna, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for his role as the AAR director of operations.
• Robert Obrey, 40, of Scotia, worked as an AAR field supervisor and was sentenced to 15 months.
• Philippe Goyeau, 43, of West Sand Lake, was sentenced to 8 months in prison. He was the executive director of ALA.
• Alison Gardner, 42, of Medusa, was sentenced to 3 years probation. She was the laboratory director of ALA.