Mold-Remediation Scheme Alleged

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Mold-Remediation Scheme Alleged

January 24, 2006

Hartford Courant

http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-

ctmoldfraud0124.artjan24,0,557855.story?coll=hc-headlines-local

By JIM FARRELL, Courant Staff Writer A New York man has been

indicted for his role in what officials say was a mold-remediation

scheme that defrauded three state school systems.

Schongar, 59, of Clifton Park, N.Y., could face up to 20

years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted of misrepresenting

work that he did in Bristol, Easton and Manchester.

" Mold remediation is an incredibly important service to public

health and it is a business that should never be exploited for

profit, " U.S. Attorney O'Connor said in a press release Monday.

According to the indictment, Schongar allegedly deceived the

districts by saying that he used a " Microb Phase Process " that

featured the product " Microb Shield, " which he said was registered

with the Environmental Protection Agency.

Schongar's work, which spanned 2001-2004, was scrutinized when it

was not effective. Officials in the three districts said Monday that

the problems have since been addressed at the buildings where

Schongar did work.

The indictment includes three counts of mail fraud, which

represented instances when checks allegedly were sent to Schongar.

He also faces two counts of wire fraud for faxes he allegedly sent

to Bristol and Manchester.

The indictment does not address what chemicals Schongar used when he

treated the buildings, but officials say there have been no unusual

problems.

" It was nothing harmful, what he sprayed, " said , the

business manager in Manchester. Schools treated in Manchester were

Illing Middle School and Bowers, Highland Park and Keeney elementary

schools, she said.

said Manchester paid about $8,000 to Schongar. She said she

did not know if the district would pursue restitution.

also said officials regularly check for mold at all school

buildings. Wasta, the superintendent in Bristol, said his

district employs similar safeguards.

Schongar did work at Green Hills, Northeast and O'Connell elementary

schools in Bristol. Work in Easton was done at Staples

Elementary School.