Massachusetts Woman Convicted of Faking Asbestos Training

Federal prosecutors in Boston say hundreds of immigrant workers were sent on asbestos removal jobs without required training by a Massachusetts woman convicted of falsifying their records.

The U.S. Attorney’s office announced Thursday that 39-year-old Albania DeLeon of Andover was found guilty of selling fake safety training certificates to illegal immigrants who did asbestos removal and failing to pay federal employment taxes for them.

From about 2001 to 2006, DeLeon operated a certified asbestos training school and a temporary employment agency in Methuen. Prosecutors estimated between 65 percent and 80 percent of those certified were not trained.

She was convicted last week of one count of conspiracy, five counts of making false statements, 16 counts of procuring false payroll tax returns, and five counts of mail fraud. The mail fraud counts carry maximum 20-year sentences, the others five years each. Sentencing is set for Feb. 17.