A Helena real estate agent, Melanie Ann Carlin, has been sentenced to three years of felony probation and fined $150,000 for failing to provide lead-based paint disclosures to veterans living at Fort Harrison in Helena. This failure led to significant lead exposure among veterans and their families. Carlin, 54, who pleaded guilty to one felony count of knowing endangerment in November 2024, owns 406 Properties, Inc., and has over 26 years of experience in real estate.
Mold Wranglers, Inc., a Kalispell-based company, was also implicated and sentenced to two years of probation, fined $50,000, and ordered to pay $348,000 in restitution to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The company admitted to filing false claims regarding lead paint abatement at the same location, pleading guilty to one count of False Claims Act Conspiracy in November 2024.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian Morris presided over the cases. U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme emphasized the commitment to veteran safety, stating, "We take seriously the obligation to ensure the safety of our veterans and their families and will continue to work with our agency partners to hold accountable individuals like Melanie Carlin and businesses like Mold Wranglers."
Acting Special Agent in Charge Staci Gurin of the EPA Office of Inspector General highlighted the negligence of the defendants, noting their failure to ensure proper lead remediation, which exposed veterans to significant lead levels. Special Agent in Charge Machelle Jindra with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General, also condemned Carlin's actions that led to exposing families to health dangers due to lead poisoning.
The VA Office of Inspector General emphasized their role in maintaining safe environments for veterans, with Special Agent in Charge Dimitriana Nikolov stating, "This sentencing reinforces that those who do not uphold safety and integrity standards will be held accountable." Acting Special Agent in Charge Catherine Holston of the EPA’s Criminal Investigative Division added that the sentence serves as a warning to anyone disregarding environmental laws and endangering veterans' health.
The investigation revealed that Carlin signed forms falsely indicating that lead-based paint disclosures were not necessary because the properties were allegedly built after 1978, despite knowing otherwise. This negligence continued until an incident in September 2021 when a child was found consuming paint chips leading to elevated lead levels, necessitating medical treatment. A subsequent property management company rectified the oversight by ensuring proper disclosures were made.
The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office in collaboration with several federal agencies, reflecting a concerted effort to uphold health and safety standards for veteran housing.
