By David Madden

RIVERSIDE, N.J. (CBS) — Two North Jersey men and the demolition company they ran are facing criminal charges in relation to the removal of asbestos from the old Zurbrugg Memorial Hospital, in Burlington County.

Charges have been filed against South Street Fillit Recycling of Riverside and its two top officials, 53-year-old Frank Rizzo (no relation to the Philadelphia Rizzos) and 59-year-old Michael Kouvaras.

“These two individuals and their company violated criminal safety rules that prohibit unlicensed people from removing asbestos, and then disposing of the asbestos in an illegal way,” says New Jersey attorney general Jeffrey Chiesa.

They are also accused of improperly protecting the workers from the cancer-causing substance.  It’s alleged that the pair was more interested in salvaging copper and steel than in proper removal of the asbestos.

Officials say they used untrained day laborers, some coming from a halfway house in Trenton.

Rizzo and Kouvaras could face five to ten years in prison if convicted.

The EPA has been contacted to address any necessary remediation.