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PA ILLEGAL ASBESTOS REMOVAL LEADS TO GUILTY PLEAS

Release Date: 08/24/96
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PA ILLEGAL ASBESTOS REMOVAL LEADS TO GUILTY PLEAS

FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 1996

ILLEGAL ASBESTOS REMOVAL LEADS TO GUILTY PLEAS FOR SEATTLE BEVERAGE COMPANY AND TWO FORMER MANAGERS

On Aug. 20, Odom Corp. of Seattle, Wash., a wholesale beverage distributor, and two of its former managers pleaded guilty to criminally violating the Clean Air Act (CAA) by ordering company employees to illegally remove asbestos wall covering material at a warehouse located in Seattle. Robert Sacco, Odom's former operations manager, and Michael Dempsey, the company's former warehouse manager, each pleaded guilty to one felony count of violating the CAA. Sacco and Dempsey admitted that on Feb. 16, they directed employees to carry out the removal at the warehouse without complying with the safe work practices specified in EPA regulations. In a separate proceeding, Odom Corp. entered a guilty plea to a criminal charge that it negligently caused the release of asbestos into the air and thereby negligently placed individuals in imminent danger of serious bodily injury. As part of the plea agreement, Odom has agreed to pay a fine of $200,000. Sentencing is scheduled to take place on Oct. 25. The case was investigated by special agents of EPA's Criminal Investigation Division with assistance from the Puget Sound Air Control Agency.

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