Grand jury indicts Boston real estate firm on asbestos violations

A Worcester grand jury returned an indictment this week against Boston-based The Mayo Group Development LLC, a real estate investment, development and management firm, The allegations involve improper asbestos disposal at Bancroft Commons on Franklin Street. Other alleged violations of the Clean Air Act include failure to file notices of asbestos removal with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and failure to use proper asbestos emissions control procedures.

An investigation by the Massachusetts Environmental Crimes Strike Force uncovered evidence that the Mayo Group had employees demolish portions of a 10-story building without first completing an asbestos survey and removing asbestos from the building. Residents were still living in the building, according to the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office, while Mayo Group employees were tearing out asbestos-containing materials. State employees witnessed asbestos-containing material being flung out of a window.

The violations were likely to result in asbestos exposure to both workers and residents at Bancroft Commons. Exposure to asbestos can cause asbestos, lung cancer and mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer that affects the lining around the lungs, abdomen or heart. These diseases may not appear until decades after the asbestos exposure that causes them.