Maryland Inspector Pleads Guilty to Falsifying Lead Paint Certificates
Rodney Bryan Barkley, owner of Green Environmental, LLC, pleaded guilty to falsifying lead paint certificates. Barkley was found to be using a radiation machine without proper licensing and issued multiple lead-free certificates based on fraudulent laboratory results.
Prosecutors stated that Barkley altered dates, addresses, and lead content values on official lab reports to generate fake certificates. As a result, the Maryland Department of Environment had to invalidate 1,400 certificates issued by Barkley.
Some children living in homes certified by Barkley later showed elevated lead blood levels. In Maryland, homes built before 1978 are assumed to contain lead paint and must pass safety inspections.
Barkley now faces up to nine years in prison and $225,000 in fines.
RELATED: Maryland revokes 1,400 lead paint certificates after inspector criminally charged
Author's summary: Inspector pleads guilty to falsifying certificates.