Construction safety training school director sentenced to one year in prison for fraudulent practices.

The owner of a fraudulent construction safety company, which falsely certified thousands of workers—including Ivan Frias, who tragically fell to his death in 2022—has pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including reckless endangerment. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office confirmed that Alexander Shaporov, founder of Valor Security, will serve a one-year prison sentence as a consequence of his actions.

Valor Security, which was once among the largest safety training companies in New York City, came under investigation following the fatal incident involving Frias, who fell from a 15-story building located at 263 West End Avenue, near West 72nd Street, in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Evidence has emerged indicating that between December 2019 and April 2023, the company falsely certified approximately 20,000 workers as having completed critical safety training courses. These courses are mandated for construction workers to operate legally on most job sites in the city.

Court documents reveal that most of the individuals certified by Valor, including Frias, never actually received the necessary training. Despite Valor’s report that Frias had completed the required eight hours of fall protection training, prosecutors have stated he had not participated in any such courses. This gross misrepresentation not only jeopardized the lives of numerous workers but also highlighted significant lapses in oversight in the construction safety training sector.

Shaporov, along with Valor Security, pleaded guilty to charges that include one count of attempted enterprise corruption, ten counts of offering a false instrument, and the charge of reckless endangerment. His sentencing is scheduled for October 3, during which he is expected to be ordered to undertake 100 hours of community service and pay a forfeiture of 0,000. Additionally, Valor Security has lost its operating license in the state.

The District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, underscored the importance of accountability in the construction industry, emphasizing the dangerous consequences of disregarding safety training standards. The city’s Department of Investigation (DOI) and Department of Buildings (DOB) are poised to continue their collaboration in rooting out fraud within this critical area.

Coincidentally, the plea agreement occurred shortly after another tragic incident in Brooklyn, where a construction worker was killed by falling concrete at a job site. This event underscores the persistent risks faced by construction workers and the ongoing necessity for stringent safety regulations and compliance. The DOB has since issued numerous violations at the Brooklyn site, reflecting the critical need for oversight in construction practices across the city.

As investigations and safety audits continue, city officials remain committed to ensuring that such tragedies are not repeated and that construction sites adhere to the highest safety standards.