Plumber Gets Probation For 2015 E Village Explosion That Killed 2

EAST VILLAGE, NY — A master plumber who filed false paperwork that ultimately led to the 2015 explosion in an East Village building was sentenced to probation and community service Wednesday, the Daily News reported.

The plumber, Andrew Trombettas, pleaded guilty for his role in rubber-stamping paperwork related to an illegally-rigged gas line at the building, located at Second Ave. and Seventh St., according to the Daily News.

The gas line set-up sparked a 2015 explosion that killed Moises Locon, an employee at Sushi Park on the ground floor, and Nicholas Figueroa, a customer at the sushi spot. The News reported 25 others were injured by the blast.

Trombettas was promised three years of probation and 100 hours of community in a plea deal, the Daily News reported.

Trombettas was accused of allowing another plumber, Athanasios Ioannidis, who was not professionally licensed to use Trombettas' license to submit permits to the Department of Buildings and Con Edison, according to the Manhattan District Attorney's indictment.

Maria Hrynenko, previous building owner, her son Michael Hrynenko and Dilber Kukic, a general contractor, were also indicted.

Michael Hrynenko died at 31 while awaiting trial in 2017.

Since the explosion, Nexus Development Group has purchased the lot and plans to build high-end condos to replace the seven-story building at 119 Second Ave.