Pipeline safety inspectors accused of falsifying gas line inspections spanning across New York City and Westchester
In a shocking turn of events, federal prosecutors in Manhattan have charged Liam Treibert and Michael Vasconcellos, both employees of Con Edison, for conducting over a hundred fraudulent safety inspections on the company's gas pipelines in New York City and Westchester County.
According to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, the actions of Treibert and Vasconcellos put the lives of New Yorkers at risk. Con Edison spokesperson Jamie McShane stated that the indictment against Treibert and Vasconcellos will help deter future misconduct against the company.
The charges are related to falsifying records to show the completion of critical safety tests on welds from 2016 to 2023. Prosecutors claimed that Treibert and Vasconcellos used a process called "radaring," where they performed X-ray testing on one weld and then passed off a copy of the same test for other welded connections.
The falsified records were designed to show that critical safety tests of welds on natural gas pipelines had been completed. These safety inspections were meant to ensure the pipelines were protected from gas leaks or explosions. Con Ed has identified weld irregularities linked to third-party contractors and has implemented enhanced monitoring to ensure the safe operation of their gas system.
Liam Treibert is 30 years old, and Michael Vasconcellos is 44 years old. The accused individuals worked for Con Edison, a company responsible for natural gas pipelines throughout New York City and Westchester County. The defenders of Treibert and Vasconcellos, accused in Manhattan for their alleged actions, are their appointed criminal defense attorneys, but specific names have not been publicly disclosed.
Treibert and Vasconcellos are facing charges of wire fraud, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. The indictment against them was issued by the U.S. Attorney's office. Con Ed has confirmed that they paid for these inspections based on the false information provided by Treibert and Vasconcellos.
This story is still developing and may be updated.
