SAFETY’S LAST

Choosing to ignore violations issued by the Fire and Buildings departments proved costly for a number of property and business owners in Brooklyn and Queens who were recently arrested as part of a large-scale enforcement operation conducted by the city’s Department of Investigation (DOI), it was announced.

In all, 110 individuals across the five boroughs either voluntarily surrendered or were arrested in the sweep conducted by the DOI, the FDNY and the Department of Buildings (DOB) for failing to appear in court to answer for criminal court summonses for a range of violations of the city’s building and fire codes.

Among the local violators were a Middle Village man who owns a Rego Park strip club, a Howard Beach man who falsely claimed to be a licensed electrician while performing work at his buildings and the owner of an Elmhurst building who illegally subdivided the home into single-room occupancies (SROs) and continued to operate the facility in spite of a valid vacate order.

“We need no reminder of the tragic consequences when individuals flout building and fire codes,” said DOI Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn. “Ignoring violations that jeopardize public safety is not an option and will expose the violator to criminal processes, including arrest and penalties.”

“It is mind-boggling that businesses and individuals choose to ignore fire code violations issued by our firefighters and fire inspectors,” added Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano. “The codes are there for one reason only—to protect the employees and customers in these es- tablishments, as well as the firefighters who may have to respond to fires at these locations.”

“Unlicensed construction work and illegal apartments can put lives in danger, and property owners and contractors who are willing to ignore the law to make a profit must be brought to justice,” said Buildings Commissioner Robert D. LiMandri.

While the DOI and the FDNY and DOB worked together to arrest violators, other suspects turned themselves in voluntarily during the operation. Each violator faces fines and other penalties imposed by the agencies.

One of the 10 people arrested in the sweep for failing to answer to Buildings Department violations was Edmundo Villamar of Flushing, who owned a building located on 48th Avenue in Elmhurst. Buildings Department inspectors ordered the property vacated following an inspection in the fall of 2007, during which they found that the building was subdivided into three apartment units and 16 SROs.

According to the DOI, a followup inspection later revealed that Villamar continued to operate 11 SROs at the location, prompting the issuance of a criminal court summons.

Villamar, who was no longer listed as the owner of the property as of August 2009, was arrested by the DOI on Thursday, June 23 for his failure to answer the charges; the case was adjourned until Aug. 24.

In a second case, Howard Beach’s John A. Plunkett voluntarily surrendered on June 6 for failing to answer to violations that he misrepresented himself as a licensed electrician to perform work at his property on Gerritsen Avenue in Brooklyn. He would surrender to authorities again 10 days later on June 16, for the same violation at a building he owns on 88th Street in Howard Beach.

Among the 20 individuals in Queens who were arrested for failing to answer to criminal court summonses regarding Fire Department violations are the following:

 Olivan Cortez of Queens was arrested on May 26 for failing to respond to rangehood violations found at the Viva Zapata Restaurant, located at 80-14 Roosevelt Ave. in Elmhurst. The case has been adjourned until July 14.

 Gavine Rousian of Middle Village was arrested on May 26 for failing to respond to a violation for operating without a licensed place of public assembly Wiggles strip club located at 96-24 Queens Blvd. in Rego Park. The case has been adjourned until July 14.

 Luz Sevillano was arrested on May 26, for failing to answer for rangehood violations at La Ruana Paisa restaurant, located at 92-03 37th Ave. in Jackson Heights. The case has been adjourned until July 14.

 Franklin Gonzalez of Jackson Heights was arrested on May 26 for failing to respond to rangehood violations at Margarita’s Restaurant and Sports Bar, located at 83-22 37th Ave. in Jackson Heights. He is scheduled to reappear in court on July 7.

 Martin Alvarez of the Bronx was arrested on May 26 for failing to respond to rangehood violations at El Sol Azteca restaurant, located at 82- 12 Roosevelt Ave. in Jackson Heights. The case has been adjourned until July 28.

 Abraham Romer of Woodmere was arrested on May 26 for ignoring violations for failing to install/repair or show progress towards a working sprinkler system at the Windowrama factory located at 130-11 Atlantic Ave. in Richmond Hill. The case has been adjourned until July 28.

 Lourdes Chhetri of Elmhurst was arrested on May 26 for ignoring a violation for operating without a licensed place of public assembly a business located on 37th Avenue in Woodside. She is expected to reappear in court on July 7.

 Indrit Kraja of Forest Hills was arrested on June 7 for failing to respond to rangehood violations at Rocky 2 Pizza, located at 607 Second Ave. in Manhattan. The case has been adjourned until July 26.

The sweeps were conducted by the DOI’s Offices of the Inspectors General for the Fire and Buildings departments, the FDNY Bureau of Fire Investigations and the DOB Internal Audits and Discipline Unit. The cases are being prosecuted by the New York City Law Department under the supervision of Senior Counsel Sherrill Kurland.