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Landlord Pleads Guilty to Lying About Lead Paint Hazards - First Criminal Prosecution in U.S. for Lead Hazard Warnings Rule

Release Date: 7/11/2001
Contact Information: Donna Heron, (215) 814-5113

Donna Heron, (215) 814-5113

GREENBELT, Md. – David D. Nuyen, 65, a landlord and company owner, pleaded guilty today in federal court to charges in both Maryland and Washington, D.C., that included obstruction of justice and submitting false documents to federal officials.

Nuyen, of Silver Spring, Md., was required to notify tenants of actual or potential hazards of lead-based paint prior to their signing of a lease. When the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) contacted him in September, 1998, Nuyen was unable to produce the required records.

He subsequently presented HUD with backdated forms containing false, fictitious and fraudulent statements and he also directed his building managers to have tenants sign and backdate the lead paint disclosure form.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, which must be approved by U.S. District Court Judge Deborah K. Chasanow, Nuyen will serve two years in prison and could be subject to a maximum $250,000 fine for each of six felony counts. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 19, 2001. EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division participated in the investigation.

Complete details are contained in the July 11 press release from the U.S. Department of Justice which is attached.