A developer from St. Louis, Missouri was sentenced on Friday to spend the next two years in a federal prison. Matthew Burghoff reportedly admitted to handling asbestos improperly as well as to committing financial crimes related to his development company.

Burghoff, who is the head of Mambo Development, pleaded guilty to the charges stemming from his conduct on October 1st of this year. The charges included bank fraud and a violation of the Clean Air Act.

According to prosecutors Burghoff pocketed money that was borrowed for various projects and supplied false documents to banks on at least two separate occasions.

Trash bags filled with asbestos were purportedly found outside of the Ford building which Burghoff’s company was renovating. The law says that the removal and disposal of asbestos-containing materials is to be documented in order to ensure the safe removal of the toxic material.

Throughout the early to mid twentieth century asbestos was used in a number of building and automotive products. Its dangerous nature was not discovered until the 1970’s. It was around this time that congress created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and use of the substance began to become regulated by the government.

Burghoff was also ordered to pay in upwards of $580,000 in fines.

Exposure to asbestos that is removed and handled improperly can result in the development of asthma, asbestosis, and mesothelioma, a fatal cancer.

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