Carl Fioravanti, a contractor from Highland, Indiana, received a prison sentence of over six and a half years. The federal court found him guilty of causing a significant environmental risk by mishandling asbestos during a demolition project in Waukegan in 2023. The demolition involved a medical campus where large amounts of asbestos were left untreated, posing serious health risks.
Fioravanti, 58, pleaded guilty in June to charges of wire fraud and tax fraud. He admitted to collecting over $1.8 million from the general contractor, despite knowing the asbestos at the Lake Behavioral Hospital site was not fully cleared. He falsified records and misled state and federal officials to hide his misconduct.
Photos from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration showed workers without protective gear, risking exposure to asbestos. This took place at Lake Behavioral Hospital, located next to a functioning medical facility.
The general contractor, shocked by the contamination, spent more than $26 million on site cleanup and legal expenses, according to court records. Fioravanti was the former president of the now-defunct Alliance Environmental Solutions.
Beyond Waukegan, Fioravanti’s legal troubles include lying about asbestos removal in a contract for demolishing the old Harvey Hotel. He also admitted to evading over $2.7 million in taxes with falsified returns over eight years.
U.S. District Judge Franklin Valderrama expressed anger over Fioravanti’s actions, citing his pursuit of profit at the cost of health risks to workers and residents. The judge noted the callous nature of the crime, where heavy equipment spread carcinogenic material due to false assurances.
The danger extended to workers potentially carrying asbestos particles back to their families. Asbestos-related health issues can take decades to appear, leaving the impact on workers and nearby residents uncertain. Despite this, the seriousness of the crimes remained undiminished.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Chapman emphasized that Fioravanti was fully aware of asbestos dangers, making the negligence unforgivable. Fioravanti’s lawyers sought leniency, claiming he became overwhelmed and didn’t intend harm, noting he had previously operated a successful business without a criminal record.
In court, Fioravanti apologized, acknowledging his deliberate wrongdoings. In addition to the 2023 incident, he admitted to similar infractions in a 2018 project involving the Chicago Park Hotel, managed by the Cook County Land Bank Authority.
Both projects were subcontracted to Fioravanti’s company by KLF Enterprises for asbestos removal. James Bracken, the owner of KLF, is under FBI investigation but has not been charged.
Fioravanti admitted to directing improper disposal of asbestos with other materials, later placing the waste in an unsuitable landfill owned by Bracken. He altered manifests to disguise this improper disposal when subpoenaed by federal investigators. His plea deal didn’t include cooperation with ongoing investigations.
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