Federal prosecutors accuse a contractor in Virginia of hiring three homeless men to remove asbestos without providing them with the necessary training or protective equipment.

A federal grand jury sitting in Roanoke, Virginia, indicted John Edward Callahan on five charges of violating the Clean Water Act.

"Mr. Callahan did not have the proper license to perform asbestos abatement," says United States Attorney John L. Brownlee. "Yet, Mr. Callahan advertised for asbestos removal business, accepted an asbestos removal contract, and hired three homeless men to perform asbestos removal work, without providing them with the proper training or protective equipment. As a result, the asbestos removal created a health hazard to these men and anyone else who entered that area during the removal process."

According to the indictment, Callahan was the owner and operator of Environmental Construction, a general contracting company that advertised online and in the local phone book as a provider of several different services, including the removal of mold and asbestos. Prosecutors allege neither Callahan nor Environmental Construction possessed the required training or licensing to do asbestos work.

Prosecutors allege that Callahan hired three men living in a homeless shelter in Roanoke , Virginia , to do the asbestos removal work and that he knew the men were not certified or trained in asbestos removal. The men worked on the project from February 23, 2005 through February 25, 2005 and were paid $10.00 per hour for their work.

Callahan supplied the untrained homeless men with two-piece hooded rain suits, gloves, goggles, and half-face respirators, all of which are inadequate to prevent their exposure to asbestos fibers, prosecutors say.

If convicted on all counts, Callahan faces a maximum penalty if 25 years in prison and/or a fine of $1,250,000.

Sources: Department of Justice and Confined Space