3 charged in Brooklyn for selling bogus OSHA safety cards

April 18, 2023 Robert Abruzzese

District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced the sentencing of Gershon Kranczer, who was extradited from Israel to face justice for the sexual abuse of three young relatives.
Photo: Rob Abruzzese/Brooklyn Eagle

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District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber announced on Monday that a 42-year-old woman and the owners of two Brooklyn companies were arraigned on charges of making and selling dozens of counterfeit safety cards to New York construction workers who never received the required training.

The scam potentially puts lives at risk and violates construction safety regulations, Gonzalez said.

“Evading regulations that ensure worksite safety training and certification is inexcusable and puts people’s lives at risk,” Gonzalez said. “Today’s indictments should send a strong message that when alleged fraudsters offer dangerous shortcuts, or attempt to profit by getting around safety requirements, they will face serious repercussions. I thank DOI for their continued cooperation in investigating corruption cases.”

District Attorney Gonzalez emphasized the seriousness of bypassing safety requirements. The defendants, Latecia Moore, Alex Kaushanskiy, and Benedetto Bonello, are accused of forging safety certifications for workers and supervisors in the construction industry, with each card being sold for between $200 and $650.

The investigation began in November 2021 after NYCHA reported discrepancies in construction safety cards during a routine check. Workers on construction projects requiring permits from the City’s Department of Buildings (DOB) are required to take safety courses approved by the U.S. Occupation Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) and carry a card reflecting that certification.

During the investigation, DOI executed a search warrant at Moore’s workplace, recovering computers, a card printer, and various counterfeit OSHA and SST cards.

It is alleged that Moore manufactured fake cards which were later sold to customers. Prosecutors claim that undercover purchases of fraudulent OSHA-30 cards and other counterfeit cards were made from Bonello’s company, National Site Safety, and Kaushanskiy’s company, Odessa Safety.