Landlord and two contractors sentenced to between 4 and 12 years for running an illegal gas line

New York City landlord and two contractors are sentenced to up to 12 years for running illegal gas line that resulted in a devastating East Village explosion in 2015, killing two and seriously injuring 13

  • A New York State Supreme Court jury found 59-year-old Maria Hrynenko, 63-year-old Athanasios Ioannidis and 44-year-old Dilber Kukic guilty on all charges 
  • The trio were the masterminds behind the plot to divert gas from a ground-floor building up to the apartments located in New York City’s East Village 

The Manhattan landlord and pair of dubious handymen have been sentenced to 4 to 12 years in prison for siphoning gas from a line that resulted in a 2015 explosion that left two dead and 13 injured.

A New York State Supreme Court jury found 59-year-old Maria Hrynenko, 63-year-old Athanasios Ioannidis and 44-year-old Dilber Kukic guilty on all charges, according to a release from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. 

The trio were the masterminds behind the 2015 plot to divert gas from a ground-floor building up to the apartments located in New York City’s East Village.

 

The trio were the masterminds behind the plot to divert gas from a ground-floor building up to the apartments located in New York City’s East Village

The gas that escaped from the faulty and illegal hook-up caught on fire, triggering an explosion that leveled two buildings, killing busboy Moises Locon, 26, and restaurant guest Nicholas Figueroa, 23. 

‘Developers and property owners across the City should keep today’s sentencing in mind as New York’s building boom continues into 2020,’ said District Attorney Vance. 

‘If you cut corners based on expediency and profit and kill or injure New Yorkers in the process, you are engaging in criminal conduct and my Office will seek significant prison time. 

Moises Locon, 26

Nicholas Figueroa, 23

The gas that escaped from the faulty and illegal hook-up caught on fire, triggering an explosion that leveled two buildings, killing busboy Moises Locon, 26, and restaurant guest Nicholas Figueroa, 23.

‘I would like to thank the prosecutors in my Office’s Rackets Bureau for their steadfast commitment to achieving justice for the victims, whose loved ones have shown remarkable strength from the moment of this shocking crime through today’s resolution of this case. Our Office will never forget Nicholas and Moises.’ 

13 people were also seriously injured after the massive explosion

13 people were also seriously injured after the massive explosion

All three defendants had been charged with manslaughter in the second degree, assault in the second degree, assault in the third degree and reckless endangerment in the second degree. 

Athanasios was also charged with falsifying business records in the second degree. 

During the trial, prosecutors said that the three defendants were caught by utility firm Con Edison for an illegal gas line constructed with leak-prone plastic pipe seven months before the explosion.

Con Edison ordered them to fix the problem, but instead they devised a way to illegally tap into the gas line of 119 Second Avenue, owned by Hrynenko, to provide gas to the apartments at 121 Second Avenue, Hrynenko’s other building. 

The second gas line was hidden from Con Edison and city inspectors inside a locked utility room.

Prosecutors also said Ioannidis was operating without a license, and the building owner, Hrynenko, urged him and Kukic to do the work as fast as possible, before Con Edison could inspect the site. 

Athanasios was also charged with falsifying business records in the second degree

Athanasios was also charged with falsifying business records in the second degree



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