By Shawntaye Hopkins

Archives Reprint

   shawntaye.hopkins@roanoke.com

   981-3384

    James River High School students were supposed to attend classes this fall in a mold-free facility - and they still might.

    But now there could be reason to doubt claims made by the head of a New York mold remediation company.

    Ronald Schongar, 57, of Clifton Park, N.Y., was arrested last week and charged with defrauding several Connecticut schools in a mold removal scam. He also is under investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency in Virginia, New Jersey, New York and South Carolina.

    James River school officials hired Schongar on June 14 to rid the school of mold. School administrators signed a contract with Schongar's company, Microb Phase, in May and agreed to pay $7,500 for the mold removal.

    School officials in Campbell County and Lynchburg also hired Schongar to get rid of mold.

    When James River officials began working with the company, Deputy Superintendant Rod Dillman was not aware of the EPA investigations, which started in December 2003.

    School officials have not paid any of the money yet, Dillman said. He recently requested advice from the Botetourt County school board's attorney about how to proceed. School maintenance workers have not tested James River for mold since Schongar sprayed the school last month.

    "We assumed that if there was any mold, it was gone," Dillman said.

    He said a mold that is toxic to people, stachbotrys, was never found in James River High School. But other common outdoor molds were present.

    Concerning the New York case, Schongar is charged with mail fraud, wire fraud and violations of the Federal Fungicide Insecticide and Rodenticide Act.

    There could be more charges brought against Schongar after investigations in other states, including Virginia, are complete, Connecticut's U.S. Attorney Kevin O'Connor said.

    Schongar was arrested last week to keep him from scamming any other businesses, he said. Schongar was released on a $50,000 bond and is due back in court Aug. 4.

    "This is a man who took advantage of the fear that exists in certain school districts," O'Connor said.

    According to court documents, Schongar created false lab reports about the indoor air quality of schools in Connecticut, then offered Microb Phase's services. He then falsely and fraudulently told school officials the company's product was registered with and approved by the EPA. In the end, Schongar claimed the chemicals had alleviated the air problems he identified.

    Schongar did not return telephone messages Wednesday afternoon. But in an interview with EPA investigator Leonard Borges in connection with a search of Schongar's home, Schongar said he forwarded customers a technical bulletin for the product called AEGIS Microbe Shield, which is registered with the EPA.

    Schongar, however, said that he did not use that product, but mixed his own chemicals in his garage, according to court documents. He said his mixture consisted of isopropyl alcohol and a soap solution.

    Hunter Barnes, an architectural consultant with the Virginia Department of Education, verbally advised the facilities directors of Henry County and Montgomery County schools in mid-April not to use Microb Phase's services until the investigation is complete.

    Schongar contacted schools with mold problems in both those counties, Barnes said. Schongar's answers weren't consistent when department of education officials and school officials asked about the chemicals he would use to clean the schools, Barnes said.

    Barnes then researched the company and found out about the investigation.

    Schongar worked from his home under seven company names for about 10 years: Microb Phase L.L.C.; British American Environmental Co.; Microb Phase Inc.; Microb Phase Environmental; Microb Phase Laboratory Inc.; Mold Away; and Air Tech and Air Tech Services.

    If convicted of mail and wire fraud, Schongar faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count. If convicted of violating FIFRA, Schongar could also receive one year in jail and a $25,000 fine for each count.

    At James River, some parents are concerned about their children's health if mold still exists at the school.

    Tommy Eubank of Buchanan said he was shocked by the information about the company but commends school officials for trying to do something about mold problems.

    His daughter, Cherokee, 16, was sick and unable to go to school most of last year because of mold. She did not pass her freshman year.

    "I feel confident that the school board is making every effort to solve this situation," Eubank said.

    But Eubank said if the cleanup takes too long, Cherokee might have to transfer to a different school so that she can graduate and eventually attend college.

    For now, Eubank will watch the calendar and hope his daughter's school is mold-free Aug. 18 - the day classes start.

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