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FORMER FLORIDA RESIDENTS SENTENCED FOR VIOLATIONS DEALING WITH ILLEGAL IMPORT OF FREON
Release Date: 05/31/2001
Contact Information:
FOR RELEASE: THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2001
FORMER FLORIDA RESIDENTS SENTENCED
FOR VIOLATIONS DEALING WITH ILLEGAL IMPORT OF FREON
Luke C. Hester 202-564-7818 / [email protected]
On May 25, Aurelio Anthony Vigna, formerly of Boca Raton, Fla., and his son Joseph Vigna, formerly of Davie, Fla., were sentenced on charges of violating the Clean Air Act, the evasion of excise taxes, conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act and conspiracy to evade federal excise taxes. Aurelio Vigna was sentenced to two years imprisonment and will be required to pay $500,000 to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Joseph Vigna was sentenced to eighteen months in prison and will be required to pay $250,000 to the IRS. Both men plead guilty to falsifying documents to the U.S. Customs Service, EPA and the IRS in order to illegally import the refrigerant gas CFC-12 into the United States between 1992 and 1994. The gas was subsequently distributed. CFC-12, also known as “freon,” is commonly used in the air conditioners of automobiles manufactured before 1994. Its importation is highly restricted because, when released into the atmosphere, freon depletes the ozone layer which helps provide protection against the harmful sunlight effects including skin cancer and cataracts. The case was investigated by EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and the IRS Criminal Investigation Division. It was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami.
R-083 ###
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