Tracy, CA Man Receives 10 Month Prison Sentence for Asbestos Violations

By Aaron Poehler

Published on August 29, 2008

Wassim Mohammad Azizi, 37, has been convicted by a federal jury of three felony counts of violating the Clean Air Act in conjunction with the demolition of a building which contained significant amounts of asbestos.

The U.S. District Court jury found that the demolition of an unoccupied two-story wooden building he owned at 27794 Mission Blvd. in Hayward was illegal due to Azizi's failure to comply with several provisions of the Clean Air Act, including failing to properly notify the Air District, failing to wet the asbestos-containing material, failing to keep the material in leak-tight containers, and failing to dispose of the asbestos-containing material at a properly authorized location.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge Maxine M. Chesney sentenced Azizi to serve 10 months in prison, to be followed by a two-year period of supervised release. Azizi faced a maximum possible federal prison sentence of fifteen years, along with potential fines of up to $750,000 plus restitution. Each felony violation of the Clean Air Act carries a maximum statutory penalty of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine, plus restitution.

Azizi is scheduled to begin serving his sentence on December 1, 2008. He is currently free on his own recognizance.

 

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