State officials have sued Gotti family-owned firms for allegedly releasing toxic chemicals from a Queens scrapyard.
The case was filed by state Attorney General Letitia James and environmental officials named LSM Auto Parts & Recycling, Liberty Scrap Metal Inc., BGN Real Estate LLC and Three Sons Real Estate Group as defendants.
Carmine Gotti Agnello Jr., the grandson of the late Gambino mob boss John Gotti, is one of the owners of the Jamaica-based LSM Auto Parts & Recycling at 155-11 Liberty Avenue, the AG’s office said.
BGN Real Estate and Three Sons Real Estate Group, which owns the property of the scrapyard, is owned by Victoria Gotti, John Gotti’s daughter and mother of Carmine, according to the 34-page suit filed by the AG’s office in State Supreme Court, Queens.
“If you make a mess, you clean it up. Most learn this old adage before they speak their first words, but it’s clear LSM never did. Instead, LSM flouted our environmental protection laws and mismanaged toxic chemicals and pollutants which pose a serious, long-term threat,” James said in a statement.
State Department of Environmental Commissioner Basil Seggos claimed the Gotti-owned firms ignored repeated requests to clean up the pollutants and violated a slew of laws in what is considered an “environmental justice” area populated by disadvantaged New Yorkers.
“Violations of New York state’s environmental laws and regulations are serious offenses that not only threaten our natural resources but also put a heavy burden on communities near non-compliant businesses,” said Seggos, a plaintiff in the case.
“The daily operations at LSM Auto Parts and its unremedied oil spills led to contaminated runoff that threatens the environment and the community. Despite DEC’s ongoing outreach to take proper steps for cleanup, the owners are unresponsive and continue to operate with blatant disregard for the environment and the local community.”
It’s not the first time the Gottis have been in hot water for illegal actions at the scrapyard.
Carmine Gotti Agnello Jr. — who, along with his two brothers, starred in the reality show “Growing Up Gotti’’ 14 years ago — was busted in 2018 on charges of crushing cars without a license and falsifying business records.
He was a bit like his grandfather and used Teflon. Carmine copped a plea to reduced misdemeanor charges — dodging prison time — in exchange for a $1,000 fine and a forfeiture of $4,605 in ill-gotten gains.
Tuesday’s 34-page suit states that the state and city environmental officers received complaints about contaminants running into the street from Gotti Scrapyard. Inspections from 2018 to 2021 also found a sheening oil and engine fluids throughout property.
In June of 2021, DEC officials reported receiving a phone call from Victoria Gotti, who is listed on records as the owner or contact for the property, admitting that the salvage yard was in “poor shape” and that it may need to be paved over with concrete, the suit said.
However, DEC officials cautioned against paving over the yard without first cleaning out pollutants.
The Gottis didn’t immediately comment.
Read the full article here
