Saverio Todaro, owner of SAF Environmental Corp., an EPA certified lead risk assessor and New York State licensed asbestos air sampling technician, pleaded guilty to falsifying hundreds of lead and asbestos inspection and testing reports for locations throughout New York City.

Starting from February 2001, Todaro claimed to have performed lead paint and asbestos clearance testing in New York City residences that have been found by the DOH Lead Program of the HPD Lead Program, to contain hazardous lead-based paint and/or asbestos.

However, Todaro did not actually perform the clearance testing. Instead, he created fake laboratory reports of the dust samples which stated the residences were clear of hazardous lead-paint and asbestos, and safe for occupancy. SAF customers would then submit such fake laboratory reports to DOH and HPD for abatement or remediation.

From February 2004, Todaro’s asbestos investigator certificate has been suspended and was prohibited from performing building inspection for asbestos. But Todaro continued asbestos inspections or claimed to have continued despite his suspension. On some occasions, Todaro claimed to have performed asbestos inspections without doing so and filed ACP-5s falsifying his work.

Todaro pleaded guilty to 5 counts of false statements, 3 counts of mail fraud, and 3 counts of violations of the Toxic Substances Control Act. He currently faces a maximum sentence of 88 years of imprisonment and a maximum fine of $825,000.