The corrupt concrete testing firm boss who tried to kill himself twice to avoid going to prison was finally sentenced yesterday. Wearing a neck brace in court (a keepsake from his failed attempt to hang himself last month), V. Reddy Kancharla, president of the ironically-named Testwell Laboratories, defended himself to the end, telling the judge, "Despite the jury’s verdict, I want you to know that Testwell was not a criminal enterprise, and that I am not a criminal mastermind." But Justice Edward J. McLaughlin didn't seem to find that very persuasive. more ›

Prosecutors are poised to slap New York's top concrete testing company with some serious racketeering and fraud charges. After a nine month investigation, the DA is urging a grand jury to vote for charges against at least a dozen employees of Testwell Laboratories, which holds $12 million in city contracts for analyzing the strength of concrete at public projects including bridges, subway tunnels and schools. Some of the top officials at the company could face a maximum 25 years in prison for allegedly failing to conduct some tests and falsifying others, the Times reports. The Buildings Department says it's now going back and "assessing concrete at various sites across the city." Investigators have also found irregularities in tests conducted at the new Yankee Stadium and the Freedom Tower. Hopefully none of this will cause delays with Ground Zero construction! more ›