MDE Issues Enforcement Actions Against 22 City Property Owners

MDE’s Lead Poisoning Prevention Program serves as the coordinating agency of statewide efforts to eliminate childhood lead poisoning. Under the 1994 “Reduction of Lead Risk in Housing Law,” MDE assures compliance with mandatory requirements for lead risk reduction in rental units built before 1950, maintains a statewide listing of registered and inspected units, and provides blood lead surveillance through a registry of test results of all children tested in Maryland. The following actions were for properties alleged to be out of compliance with lead risk reduction standards:

• V & J Properties USA, LLC (not in good standing) – 5 affected properties, $28,000 for alleged violations.
• Karey E. Hall – 3 affected properties, $16,500 for alleged violations.
• Daventry Realty, LLC (no resident agent, not in good standing) – 8 affected properties, $21,000 for alleged violations.
• Michael Jurkiewicz – 21 affected properties, $45,000 for alleged violations.
• Ruth A. Wickham – 6 affected properties, $31,500 for alleged violations.
• Diane Britton – 1 affected property, $22,000 for alleged violations.
• Bibiana Encomienda – 32 affected properties, $51,000 for alleged violations.
• Featherstone Management, LLC and Lakeside National, LLC – (neither are in good standing, one is owned by Ryan Frost, same address as slumlord Russell A. Frost)  2 affected properties, $23,000 for alleged violations.
• Miroslaw Grabowski and Christine Grabowski – 4 affected properties, $27,500 for alleged violations.
• Aisha Laws – 1 affected property, $16,000 for alleged violations.
• Jerome Brown – 8 affected properties, $35,000 for alleged violations.
• Joseph E. Smith – 2 affected properties, $16,000 for alleged violations.
• John W. Lamp, Jr. and Effy Z. Lamp – 1 affected property, $28,000 for alleged violations.
• Crystal Clark – 1 affected property, $17,000 for alleged violations.
• Harrichand Singh – 9 affected properties, $40,500 for alleged violations.
• Milton Tillman – 2 affected properties, $27,500 for alleged violations.
• M&S Associates, Inc. (A Tillman-controlled corporation, not in good standing with the state) – 8 affected properties, $35,000 for alleged violations.
• Arthur J. Lanier and Ervin Dantzler – 1 affected property, $7,500 for alleged violations.
• Phoenix Eagle Corporation (controlled by Milton Tillman, III and also not in good standing.) – 7 affected properties, $44,000 for alleged violations.
• Black Lotus Development, LLC and Michael Brown (corporate charter of Black Lotus lists a DC address, charter has been forfeited.) – 8 affected properties, $30,000 for alleged violations.
• Michael Jurkiewcz – 21 affected properties, The defendant agreed to a penalty of $9,000.

MDE Issues Enforcement Actions Against 9 Baltimore City Property Owners

More lead paint violations:

• Valhalla Investments, LLC and Thomas Reese, 4 affected properties, $18,000 for alleged violations.
• Parkvue, LLC (Not registered in Maryland), 1 affected property, $16,500 for alleged violations.
• Caroline Iwu, 2 affected properties, $16,500 for alleged violations.
• James W. Martin III, 1 affected property, $15,000 for alleged violations.
• Tiffany S. Smithrick and Lamont T. Cooper Sr., 8 affected properties, $18,000 for alleged violations.
• Kevin Richards and Vivian Richards, 1 affected property, $21,500 for alleged violations.
• Rebecca E. Floyd, 1 affected property, $27,500 for alleged violations.
• Jerome Kobernick, 24 affected properties.  On May 10, 2011, MDE entered into a Settlement Agreement and Consent Order to resolve alleged violations. The defendant agreed to a penalty of $6,000.
• 2005/2006 DRR-ETS, LLC, (Yet another shell entity owned by the real estate bid-rigging conspirator law firm of De Laurentis, Reiff & Reid), 60 affected properties.  On May 12, 2011, MDE entered into a Settlement Agreement and Consent Order to resolve alleged violations. The $5,000 penalty has been paid.

MDE Issues Enforcement Actions Against 22 Baltimore City Property Owners for Lead Violations

MDE’s Lead Poisoning Prevention Program serves as the coordinating agency for statewide efforts to eliminate childhood lead poisoning. Under the 1994 “Reduction of Lead Risk in Housing Law,” MDE assures compliance with mandatory requirements for lead risk reduction in rental units built before 1950, maintains a statewide listing of registered and inspected units, and provides blood lead surveillance through a registry of test results of all children tested in Maryland. The following actions were for properties alleged to be out of compliance with lead risk reduction standards:

KEBL, Properties, LLC – 9 affected properties, The defendants agreed to a penalty of $10,000.

Leonard E. Forrence & Betsey J. Forrence – 4 affected properties, $21,500 for alleged violations.

Michael Ronald Thomas, Jr. & Carol Sue Thomas – 1 affected property, $21,000 for alleged violations.

Rahel Yirga, Reta Yirga, & Nile Properties, LLC – 2 affected properties, $45,000 for alleged violations.

Marlene Kurland – 1 affected property, $32,500 for alleged violations.

Abraham Samuel Kurland – 2 affected properties, $20,000 for alleged violations.

Jovan Walker – 1 affected property, $11,000 for alleged violations.

D & D Management, Inc. – 2 affected properties, The defendants agreed to a penalty of $6,000.

Joseph C. Fair – 1 affected property, $27,500 for alleged violations.

Terrainio J. Hart – 2 affected properties, $25,000 for alleged violations.

William Miezan and Julie Miezan – 5 affected properties, $17,500 for alleged violations.

Claude L. Williams – 6 affected properties, $50,000 for alleged violations.

Debora E. Boyd and Amaka Property Management and Preservation, LLC – 3 affected properties, $26,500 for alleged violations.

Robert R. Grier and Emma Lois Grier – 1 affected property, $18,000 for alleged violations.

Enemus Samuels – 8 affected properties, $22,000 for alleged violations.

Tony Shaw – 3 affected properties, $40,000 for alleged violations.

Sac’s Harmison St. Property, LLC – 1 affected property, $27,000 for alleged violations.

Yeno F. Godfrey and Ayabavi Thon – 8 affected properties, $23,000 for alleged violations.

Sherine Gray – 4 affected properties, $30,000 for alleged violations.

Keisue Brown and Annette Brown – 6 affected properties, $40,000 for alleged violations.

2005/2006 DRR-ETS LLC and JR Realty LLC – 60 affected properties, $30,000 for alleged violations.

Carmen E. Bovell-Chester and Marlon E. Bovell – 4 affected properties, $25,000 for alleged violations.

In addition, the Lead Poisoning Prevention Program accredits and enforces performance standards for inspectors and contractors working in lead hazard reduction. The following actions are for contractors and inspectors alleged to be out of compliance with state regulations:

Davendra Birbahadur – $10,000 for alleged violations.

Lilias Rodriguez – $15,000 for alleged violations.

Lawrence T. Wilson, Jr. – $15,000 for alleged violations.

You can read the full press release here.

The Adventures of Stanley and Bud

It would seem that Charles “Bud” Runkles is a busy guy.  In addition to being Stanley Rochkind’s sometime-Resident Agent, he’s also a lead paint abatement contractor. And the address of his business traces back to Stanley Rochkind’s building at 5616 Park Heights Avenue.

Here are some prime examples of Mr. Runkles’ activities in West Baltimore:

Property Addresses  1017 W. Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD 21223, 1021 W. Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD 21223, 105 N. Carrollton Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21223

Property Owner:  BGM Realty #5 Corp., PO Box 32118, Baltimore, MD 21282, BGM Realty #6 Corp., (same address), and BGM Realty #7 Corp. (again, same address as #5 and #6)

Resident Agent for BGM Realty #5 Corp., BGM Realty #6 Corp., and BGM Realty #7 Corp.:  Charles Runkles

City Council District and Contact:  District 9, Agnes Welch

1017 W. Fayette Street

1021 W. Fayette Street

105 N. Carrollon Avenue

Considering the number of lawsuits filed against these men for lead paint violations, we’re shocked that neither of them have been stripped of their professional licenses.  Time for MDE and DLLR to get on the ball and make sure these two men are no longer able to wreak this kind of havoc on YOUR community.

MDE Issues Enforcement Actions in Baltimore City

From the Maryland Department of the Environment:

MDE’s Lead Poisoning Prevention Program serves as the coordinating agency of statewide efforts to eliminate childhood lead poisoning. Under the 1994 “Reduction of Lead Risk in Housing Law,” MDE assures compliance with mandatory requirements for lead risk reduction in rental units built before 1950, maintains a statewide listing of registered and inspected units, and provides blood lead surveillance through a registry of test results of all children tested in Maryland. The following actions were for properties alleged to be out of compliance with lead risk reduction standards:

• Rodwell Bailey – Baltimore City: 2 affected properties, $16,500 for alleged violations.
• Randolph Jackson – Baltimore City: 2 affected properties, $32,000 for alleged violations.
• The Paradigm Group, LLC, Christina Abdulghani & Tareq Abdulghani – Baltimore City: 23 affected properties, $70,000 for alleged violations.
• Glen E. Adams & Edith J. Adams – Baltimore City: 2 affected properties, $44,000 for alleged violations.
• Steve Kalifa, Edgemere Investment, LLC & Dumbarton Investment, LLC – Baltimore City: 3 affected properties, $35,000 for alleged violations.
• E. Geronimo Robinson – Baltimore City: 1 affected property, $26,500 for alleged violations.
• Darnell Collins, Jr. – Baltimore City: 2 affected properties, $17,000 for alleged violations.

In addition the Lead Poisoning Prevention Program accredits and enforces performance standards for inspectors and contractors working in lead hazard reduction. The following action is for a contractor and inspector alleged to be out of compliance with state regulations:

• Wanda Simpson – Baltimore City & Anne Arundel County: On July 22, 2010, MDE issued an Administrative Complaint, Order and Penalty seeking $5,000 for alleged violations.

You can read the press release here.

MDE Issues Enforcement Actions Against 10 in Baltimore City

The Maryland Department of the Environment issued enforcement actions against 9 property owners in Baltimore City for lead paint violations.  A total of 47 properties were out of compliance and a total of $270,250 in fines were assessed.

• Tonya D. Horton – 2 affected properties, $45,000 for alleged violations.
• Israel Cason – 13 affected properties, $64,000 for alleged violations.
• Adedayo Babatunde – 3 affected properties, $50,000 for alleged violations.
• Daisy Realty, LLC – 11 affected properties, $40,000 for alleged violations. (Registered Agent for Daisy Realty, LLC:  Murray B. Green, 12094 Longlake Drive, Owings Mills, MD 21117)
• Sonia Kundrat and Lisa Gallagher – 2 affected properties, $7,000 for alleged violations.
• Carrie T. Williams – 3 affected properties, $37,500 for alleged violations.
• Thaiwru Britt and Dexter Hazel – 1 affected property, $15,750 for alleged violations.
• Russell O. Page – 3 affected properties, $5,000 for alleged violations.
• Diebold Hughes and Barbara Hughes – 9 affected properties, $6,000 for alleged violations.

In addition, MDE fined one lead inspector for being out of compliance with state regulations:

• James T. Blue – $25,000 for alleged violations.

You can read the entire press release here.

MDE Issues 13 Enforcement Actions in Baltimore City for Lead Paint Violations

Again we see that the Maryland Department of the Environment is taking a tough stand against lead paint violations in Baltimore City.  A total of 299 properties were affected, and a total of $353,500 in fines were issued.  You can read the entire press release here. Many thanks to Secretary Wilson and her staff for their hard work!

The Baltimore City property owners fined are as follows:

• Twyla Garrett and Hidden Levels, LLC – Baltimore City: 7 affected properties – On October 9, 2009, MDE issued an Administrative Complaint, Order and Penalty seeking $44,000 for alleged violations.
• T. Britt Price, Lisa Gallagher-Donaho, and Excel Property Management, LLC – Baltimore City: 2 affected properties – On October 9, 2009, MDE issued an Administrative Complaint, Order and Penalty seeking $15,000 for alleged violations.
• Roseline Petro-Siewe – Baltimore City: 3 affected properties – On October 23, 2009, MDE issued an Administrative Complaint, Order and Penalty seeking $22,500 for alleged violations.
• Park Arms, LLC – Baltimore City: 2 affected properties – On October 23, 2009, MDE issued an Administrative Complaint, Order and Penalty seeking $35,000 for alleged violations.
• Paul R. Williams – Baltimore City: 1 affected property – On October 23, 2009, MDE issued an Administrative Complaint, Order and Penalty seeking $10,500 for alleged violations.
• Walter E. Price and Robin Price – Baltimore City: 4 affected properties – On November 2, 2009, MDE issued an Administrative Complaint, Order and Penalty seeking $20,000 for alleged violations.
• Prisoners Aid Association of Maryland, Inc. – Baltimore City: 15 affected properties – On November 2, 2009, MDE issued an Administrative Complaint, Order and Penalty seeking $33,000 for alleged violations.
• Michael Gekht – Baltimore City: 11 affected properties – On November 2, 2009, MDE issued an Administrative Complaint, Order and Penalty seeking $15,000 for alleged violations.
• Gladis L. McKoy and James McKoy – Baltimore City: 2 affected properties – On November 2, 2009, MDE issued an Administrative Complaint, Order and Penalty seeking a combined $63,000 for alleged violations.
• K Sanga, LLC – Baltimore City: 6 affected properties – On November 13, 2009, MDE issued an Administrative Complaint, Order and Penalty seeking $25,000 for alleged violations.
• Diebold Hughes and Barbara Hughes – Baltimore City: 9 affected properties – On November 13, 2009, MDE issued an Administrative Complaint, Order and Penalty seeking $33,000 for alleged violations.
• Neighborhood Rental Services of Baltimore, Inc., et al. – Baltimore City: 179 affected properties – On October 23, 2009, MDE issued a Settlement Agreement and Consent Order seeking $17,500 for alleged violations. This penalty has been paid in full.
• Mohammad T. Rahman, et al. – Baltimore City: 58 affected properties – On November 10, 2009, MDE issued a Settlement Agreement and Consent Order seeking $20,000 for alleged violations.

Also, according to the press release — a contractor has been fined for being out of compliance with state lead regulations:

Chijioke Onuoha – Baltimore City: On November 13, 2009, MDE issued an Administrative Complaint, Order and Penalty seeking $5,000 for alleged violations.

MDE Issues Enforcement Actions Against 9 Baltimore City Property Owners

October 5, 2009

The Maryland Department of the Environment issued enforcement actions against nine Baltimore City property owners, whose properties were alleged to be out of complaince.  The actions resulted in a total of $205,000 in fines, and a total of 59 affected properties (property owners listed below).  Kudos to MDE Secretary Shari Wilson and her staff for their dedication to this issue.

• Elizabeth Isabemoh
• Robert Lambert,
• Marsha Johnson Gladden
• Marc Wynder and 3031 Oakley Avenue, LLC
• BH Property Management, LLC and Jadwong Paul Olweny
• Shelton A. Burton
• Ernest Spellen and Sandra Spellen
• Brett Rodgers

MDE Issues Enforcement Actions Against 28 Baltimore City Property Owners

This month, the MDE has been busy citing Baltimore City property owners for lead paint violations — 28 property owners in all, resulting in $404,750 for 121 affected properties.  Read the original press release here.

The property owners fined were as follows:

• Darnell G. Collins
• Ella L. Neal & Kim I. Brown
• Herbert Lee Belton
• Edward B. & Theodore S. Thornton
• Property Resources, LLC
• SUP Investments, LLC
• Blue Globe Properties, LLC
• Jin Suk Kim
• Mohammad T. Rahman
• Javed M. Nasir
• Mohammad Khalid
• 10th Baltimore Acquisition, LLC
• 4th Baltimore Acquisition
• Marsha J. Hitch
• Ruth A. Driver
• Deborah L. Chandler-Jackson
• Raymond D. & Marjorie M. Sells
• Lateef Aderomilehin
• De Soto Apartments, LLC
• Magnolia Properties Management, LLC
• Charoles Goldsborough
• Magnolia Property Management, Inc.
• Raymond R. & Norine Katzen
• Ibiom Ikotidem
• Wilco Management Holdings, LLC

Once again, we would like to take this opportunity to thank Secretary Shari Wilson and her staff for a job well done!

MDE Issues Enforcement Actions Against Three Baltimore City Slumlords

MDE’s Lead Poisoning Prevention Program serves as the coordinating agency of statewide efforts to eliminate childhood lead poisoning. Under the 1994 “Reduction of Lead Risk in Housing Law,” MDE assures compliance with mandatory requirements for lead risk reduction in rental units built before 1950, maintains a statewide listing of registered and inspected units, and provides blood lead surveillance through a registry of test results of all children tested in Maryland. The following actions were for properties alleged to be out of compliance with lead risk reduction standards:

The property owners named were:

Linwood Stevens, Jr.:  Two properties totalling $33,000 in violations.

Baboolal Collins: Two properties totalling $21,000 in violations.

Debra Laubach:  Eighteen properties (not all in Baltimore City) totalling $44,000 in violations.

As usual, we congratulate Secretary Shari T. Wilson and her staff for the hard work they perform on behalf of the citizens of Baltimore City.  Lead paint poisoning is one of the leading causes of health problems in Baltimore’s children.