Dive Brief:

• A discovery by an inspector for New York City's Department of Inspections started an investigation that led to charges by the Manhattan District Attorney's office against Avanti Building Consultants and NYCB Engineering.
• The companies' owners were charged with fraud and larceny for what prosecutors said was hiring a range of unqualified people to pose as certified safety inspectors to check on safety netting, guard rails and other precautions at more than 40 sites.
• As the government explained it, the companies defrauded clients by sending a bellhop or a busboy or someone hired off a website to pose as a $100-an-hour inspector and charging for that while paying the actor $20 an hour.

Dive Insight:

Investigators found out about the scam when they discovered safety logs signed by Michael A. Hearty -- who had died over a month previously. The initial discovery sparked a comprehensive investigation of 400 sites, where more than 80 violations were noted.