Michigan Men Arraigned on Federal Charges For Illegally Handling Asbestos From Bay City Academy

Three Bay City Michigan men were arraigned in federal court over charges of mishandling asbestos during abatement and violating federal emission standards for hazardous air pollutants during renovations at a former church. Slated to house another campus for the Bay City Academy, a charter school founded by entrepreneur Steve Ingersoll, the former church underwent a comprehensive overall. On Monday, Gerald A. Essex pleaded not guilty to four counts of illegally distributing and handling asbestos. If charged, Essex could face upwards of five years in prison and $250,000 in fines. In August, Roy C. Bradley, Sr. was arraigned on the same charges as Essex. A third man, Rodolfo Rodriguez was arraigned in August for "tampering with witnesses, victims or informants, and making false declarations to a grand jury." If found guilty, Rodriguez could face twenty years in prison for the first, single count and five years for the second. Bradley is owner of Lasting Impressions the business hired to carry out the renovations at the former church on behalf of the Bay City Academy. Along with Essex, Bradley was accused of "operating, controlling and supervising a demolition and renovation activity involving at least 260 linear feet and 160 square feet of regulated asbestos-containing material." Both men "knowingly failed to remove and cause the removal of all regulated asbestos-containing material from that facility in accordance with the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants." Further, Rodriguez testified before a grand jury in January of this year, offering false information regarding the amount of asbestos abated from the work site. Asbestos is a highly toxic, carcinogenic material commonly found in a variety of building supplies and materials. State and federal regulations stipulate the safe handling and removal of asbestos to limit the possibility of exposure. Professional asbestos abatement contractors must adhere to strict regulations in the removal, handling and dumping of asbestos. Exposure to asbestos can lead to serious medical conditions including lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma cancer.

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