Two safety inspectors have been indicted for falsifying safety inspections of natural gas pipelines in New York City and Westchester County. Liam Treibert and Michael Vasconcellos, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, face wire fraud charges related to a scheme aimed at deceiving a major utility company, referred to as "Utility-1," regarding the condition of their pipelines.
Liam Treibert, 30, from North Carolina, and Michael Vasconcellos, 44, from New York, have been accused of not only bypassing hundreds of required inspections but also creating false records to hide their deceit. "They lied about having performed hundreds of inspections and then covered up those lies with fraudulent paperwork," U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton stated in the press release.
The inspections in question were a crucial part of the process to ensure that natural gas pipelines were safe before being introduced into service. Non-destructive testing, including radiographic testing, was a requirement to identify defects that could cause catastrophic leaks or explosions. But the indictment alleges that Treibert and Vasconcellos engaged in a practice known as "radaring," where they would duplicate x-ray films of a single weld, passing them off as if they were from separate welds. As reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office, this scheme lasted from at least 2016 through 2023.
The falsification of these safety tests carries serious implications, potentially endangering numerous residents and communities that rely on the safe delivery of natural gas. New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang emphasized the need for accountability when alleged misconduct threatens public safety. Despite their responsibility to uphold the integrity of essential infrastructure, Treibert and Vasconcellos are accused of carrying out a large-scale fraud. If convicted of wire fraud, each faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
The investigation was lauded by Mr. Clayton, who emphasized the collaborative work between the offices of the New York State Inspector General and special agents with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Prosecution is being led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Markewitz and Jay McMahon. The defendants are presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty in a court of law.
