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Ohio Man Accused of Falsifying Water Operator Training Certifications

3/23/2017

(YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced that a Youngstown-area man has been indicted for allegedly falsifying the training certificates of water department employees.
 
Anthony Vigorito, 41, of Niles, was indicted by a Mahoning County grand jury today on the following six counts:

  • Two counts of forgery, fifth-degree felonies
  • Two counts of criminal non-compliance with Ohio Revised Code Chapter 6109 (Ohio’s safe drinking water law), unclassified felonies
  • Two counts of tampering with records, third-degree felonies
Vigorito offered continuing education courses for water operators. He is accused of falsifying the training certificates of Youngstown employees, primarily in 2013 and 2014, by claiming they had taken the courses, when, in fact, they never took or completed the classes as required. Last month, 26 employees of the Youngstown Water Department pleaded guilty to falsifying their contact hours in the Franklin County Municipal Court, Environmental Division. They were ordered to pay a combination of restitution, fines, and community service. Certified water operators’ licenses also were suspended for a year.  

The case was referred to the Ohio Attorney General’s Environmental Enforcement Section by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
 
An attorney with the Ohio Attorney General’s Environmental Enforcement Section was appointed as a special prosecutor by the Mahoning County Prosecutor to handle the case against Anthony Vigorito.

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Documents

Indictment (as prepared)

Media Contacts

Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Kate Hanson: 614-466-3840

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