Federal prosecutors in Manhattan charged two workers with faking hundreds of safety inspections meant to ensure Con Edison's natural gas pipelines throughout New York City and Westchester County were protected from gas leaks or explosions, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.
Liam Treibert, 30, and Michael Vasconcellos, 44, are accused of falsifying records to show that they had completed critical safety tests of welds on natural gas pipelines from 2016 to 2023, per the indictment.
“They lied about having performed hundreds of inspections and then covered up those lies with fraudulent paperwork. Their actions put the lives of New Yorkers at risk,” said Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.
They are both facing charges of wire fraud, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.
Prosecutors said Treibert and Vasconcellos performed X-ray testing on one weld and then passed off a copy of the same test for other welded connections, a process known as “radaring.”
Both men successfully conned Con Ed into thinking they had performed inspections on hundreds of pipeline connections throughout the Bronx and Westchester County, which the utility then paid for, according to prosecutors.
"We have identified and are addressing known weld irregularities linked to third-party contractors and in the meantime have implemented enhanced monitoring to ensure the continued safe operation of our gas system," Con Ed spokesperson Jamie McShane said in a statement. "Today’s indictment will help deter future misconduct against Con Edison."
Attorney information for Treibert and Vasconcellos was not immediately available.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
