Environmental Law

Fugitive Arrested in the Dominican Republic

By Walter James

On November 20, 2008, Albania Deleon was convicted on numerous felony counts, including five counts relating to making false statements on matters within the jurisdiction of the USEPA.  The trial lasted nearly three weeks.  Deleon owned and operated Environmental Compliance Training, a certified asbestos training school located in Methuen, Massachusetts.  The indictment, trial and convictions surrounded Deleon certifying individuals as having asbestos removal training when they never took the required course.       

On March 21, 2010, Deleon fled Massachusetts two days before she was scheduled to be sentenced.  When she failed to appear at the sentencing hearing, the US District Judge issued a warrant for her arrest.  Deleon was then placed on the USEPA?s fugitive list.  

Deleon was captured on October 30, 2010, in the Dominican Republic.  Dominican Republic law enforcement agents observed Deleon at a residence in Santa Domingo and arrested her after she left the residence.  When arrested, Deleon claimed she was Elba Henriquez Peña (producing a false identity card).  An extradition hearing is pending.  Upon her return to the US, Deleon will face numerous years in prison. 

If you want to visit the USEPA?s fugitives list, you can at http://www.epa.gov/fugitives/index.html

More later. 

As always, feel free to contact me via e-mail at walter.james@jamespllc.com.

WDJiii

Full post as published by Environmental Crimes Blog on November 05, 2010 (boomark / email).