NEW HAVEN — A New York man pleaded guilty Friday to a single count of mail fraud in connection with a mold remediation scheme in which he bilked three public school districts, including Bristol.

Ronald Schongar, 62, of Clifton Park, N.Y., using the company name Microb Phase contracted with the Bristol, Easton and Manchester school districts from 2001 to 2004 to apply “Microb Shield,” a product intended to remediate the presence of mold in buildings.

In so doing, Schongar deceived school officials in claiming that “Microb Shield” was a product registered with the U.S. Enviornmental Protection Agency, according to Nora R. Dannehy, acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut,

However, “Microb Shield” was never registered with the EPA and the product bearing EPA registration number 64881-3 that Schongar provided school officials was, in reality, “Microbe Shield,” and registered to AEGIS Environmental of Midland, Mich, Dannehy added.

Furthermore, Schongar and his company had no authorization from AEGIS Environmental to apply the “Microbe Shield” product or to use EPA registration number 64881-3 to promote any product.

Schongar also deceived representatives from the three school districts by falsely representing that he and Microb Phase had a partnering relationship with the EPA when no such relationship existed, Dannehy said.

A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for April 17 in U.S. District Court, at which time Schongar can face a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

http://www.bristolpress.com/articles/2009/01/31/news/doc4985064f10f37759086380.txt

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