A Long Island construction bigwig is facing up to seven years behind bars for dumping loads of concrete into Suffolk County’s fire-ravaged pine barrens using a truck with a laundry list of safety violations, officials said.
Chase Construction Enterprises owner Joao Abreu was busted after police tracked his commercial truck to a wooded area in Yaphank where it offloaded 24 tons of concrete over six weeks, authorities said.
Police found during their investigation that Abreu didn’t have a commercial driver’s license and also had 27 license suspensions, according to the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office.
The vehicle also had 19 safety violations.
Abreu was slapped with felony criminal mischief charges, which come with the potential jail time and fines of up to $150,000.
“Our environment is precious,” County Executive Ed Romaine said. “These types of crimes cannot and will not be tolerated, and law enforcement will find and arrest anybody who dares to illegally dispose of any waste in Suffolk County.”
Police in Suffolk County also cuffed a Riverhead woman, Jeanne Rodriguez, on felony criminal mischief charges after she was caught allegedly dumping household items in Manorville’s portion of the pine barrens.
A trail camera captured a U-Haul truck and several items, including mattresses, box springs, a television and dressers, the sheriff’s office said.
“Both individuals could have disposed of their waste legally — but they chose not to,” said Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon.
“Illegal dumping is lazy and harmful to our Island’s environment and taxpayers’ wallets.”
