Property owner pleads guilty to lying about lead hazards

Submitted by the United States Attorney's Office Public Affairs Officer

U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced Angel Elliot Dalfin, 58, of Buffalo, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to making a false document, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that Dalfin, using the entity Vin7, LLC, sold 23 properties in the City of Buffalo, all of which were built prior to 1978. As part of the sale of the properties, Dalfin executed lead-based paint rider and disclosure forms, on which he falsely stated that the lead-based paint hazards at the properties were unknown, and that he had no records pertaining to lead-based paint hazards at the properties. The false statements were material to Dalfin’s compliance with the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992, a statute implemented and administered by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. On average, it would have cost the buyer of each of the properties $5,000 to stabilize the lead-based-paint hazards present.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, criminal investigation division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Tyler Amon and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-In-Charge Christina D. Scaringi. Additional assistance was provided by the New York State Attorney General’s Office.

Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 7 before Judge Vilardo.