Newsday: 6 to be charged in dumping scandal

Six people and four businesses will be formally charged Monday for their alleged roles in the dumping of toxic materials in Islip, according to Newsday sources. Sources tell Newsday that two former

News 12 Staff

Dec 8, 2014, 5:38 AM

Updated 3,518 days ago

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Six people and four businesses will be formally charged Monday for their alleged roles in the dumping of toxic materials in Islip, according to Newsday sources.
Sources tell Newsday that two former Islip Town Parks Department officials, two contractors and a prominent businessman and his son will be criminally charged Monday as part of the Suffolk County district attorney's investigation into the dumping.
As News 12 has reported, investigators discovered back in April that roughly 50,000 tons of debris containing asbestos, heavy metals, pesticides and petroleum-based products were dumped at Roberto Clemente Park in Brentwood. Three more sites were found to have contaminated debris: a vacant lot in Central Islip, a state-protected wetlands area in Deer Park, and a housing development for veterans in Islandia.
According to Newsday, Thomas Datre Sr. and his son, Thomas Datre Jr., are the two businessmen who will be charged. Also to be charged are former Islip Town Parks Commissioner Joseph Montuori and his former executive secretary Brett Robinson, as well as Christopher Grabe of Islandia Recycling, and Ronald Cianculli of Atlas Asphalt. Additionally, four companies related to the Datres will be charged, Newsday sources say.
Newsday reports that the charges include criminal mischief, conspiracy and multiple violations of state environmental laws.
Just last week, crews began the process of removing the toxic soil from the Veterans Way development in Islandia.
"The entities that are responsible for this knew full well that veterans and their families were going to be living right where the dumping occurred," DA Thomas Spota said back in May about the Islandia site. "I found that to be outrageous."


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