From December 21, 2004
Business
Owner Indicted for Pesticide Fraud
(Beyond Pesticides, December 21, 2004) New
York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and NY State Department of Environmental
Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Erin Crotty today announced the indictment
of a Westchester County man who sold his services applying pesticides
to homes and businesses while he lacked the licenses, permits or training
required by the state.
The business owner, Darrell V. Richardson, 45, of New Rochelle, was arraigned today in Westchester County Court before Judge Robert DiBella and charged with two counts of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, a Class E felony; seven counts of operating an unregistered pesticide business, a misdemeanor; and one count of illegal possession of a restricted use pesticide, a misdemeanor. If convicted, Richardson faces up to four years in state prison and fines of up to $5,000 per day for violations of state environmental laws. Richardson pleaded not guilty to the charges. Judge DiBella set bail at $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond.
"The improper application of pesticides poses serious health risks," said Attorney General Spitzer. "For this reason, the state requires applicators to attend training sessions and pass certification tests. These reasonable and responsible requirements were ignored in this case and now the individual should be held accountable."
Over several years, Richardson engaged in the business of applying pesticides for hire without having registered with the DEC. During the years 2000 through 2003, he operated two different businesses - - Action Pest Control and Attack Pest Control - - that applied pesticides in Westchester and the Bronx. Richardson advertised both businesses in the Yellow Pages and represented them as fully licensed despite the fact that neither was registered with the DEC. In addition, Richardson allegedly offered guarantees of up to two years but refused to honor them when his treatments failed to eliminate pests.
The indictment charges that from March 2000 through July 2001 Richardson operated Action Pest Control and that from April 2002 through July 2003 he operated Attack Pest Control. Neither business is currently operating. DEC records show that Richardson was not a certified pesticide applicator and neither of his businesses was registered.
DEC Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) began investigating Richardson's businesses in response to complaints from dissatisfied customers. The DEC investigation revealed that Richardson had been operating the businesses from two separate locations in New Rochelle.
TAKE ACTION: Protect yourself from illegal misuse of pesticides by hiring a company that offers non-toxic and/or least-toxic alternatives. Search Beyond Pesticides' Safety Source for Pest Management to find a company in your state.