Iowa Project Supervisor Gets Probation in Asbestos Case

The supervisor of a renovation project in downtown Des Moines has been given three years of probation for his role in the illegal removal of asbestos from the building.

Russell Coco pleaded guilty to two asbestos-removal charges in February. The Des Moines Register says a federal judge sentenced Coco on Wednesday to two probation terms of three years, to be served concurrently, for supervising the removal of asbestos from the Equitable Building in violation of the Clean Air Act.

Coco and Des Moines developer Bob Knapp were accused of gutting several floors while large amounts of asbestos were present, then improperly disposing of it.

Knapp, who owned the building, also pleaded guilty to two asbestos-removal charges. He was sentenced last month to more than three years in prison.