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PA FLORIDA MEN SENTENCED IN CFC CASES

Release Date: 03/7/97
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PA FLORIDA MEN SENTENCED IN CFC CASES

FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 1997

FLORIDA MEN SENTENCED IN CFC CASES

John DeLucia of Ocala, Fla., Howard Cohen of Aventura, Fla. and Bert Coopersmith of Coconut Creek, Fla., were sentenced on Feb. 28, in U.S. District Court in Miami, Fla. DeLucia was sententenced for his conviction on charges of making a false statement to the U.S. Customs Service. Cohen and Coopersmith were sentenced for their convictions on charges of conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act. The defendants were arrested during two separate sting operations by undercover agents when they attempted to illegally purchase R-12, an ozonedepleting refrigerant used in automobile air conditioners. The importation of R-12 has been banned in the United States since Jan. 1, 1996. DeLucia was sentenced to six months home detention, three years probation and a $10,000 fine. In addition, he will forfeit $112,000, a pistol and a cellular telephone which were seized at the time of his arrest. The Internal Revenue Service has also issued a $150,000 tax assessment against DeLucia. Cohen was sentenced to three years of probation, 240 hours of community service and a $1,500 fine. Coppersmith was sentenced to three years of probation and 240 hours of community service. In addition, $125,200 and a vehicle were seized and have been forfeited to the government. These cases were investigated by EPA's Criminal Investigation Division and the U.S. Customs Service.

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