Attorney General James Takes Action to Halt Illegal Pesticide Sales in the Bronx

April 10, 2026

NEW YORK - New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced a coordinated enforcement action to stop the illegal sale and distribution of dangerous, unregistered pesticides in New York City. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) staged a surprise inspection of three wholesale warehouses in the Bronx and served cease-and-desist letters as part of an ongoing investigation into a hazardous pesticide supply chain. The enforcement action found and quarantined illegal pesticide products in two of the three warehouses. Illegal pesticides pose serious health risks to humans and need to be disposed of securely to prevent contamination. The pesticides targeted in OAG's enforcement action are often misused for household pest control, which is particularly dangerous given the lack of proper ventilation.

"New Yorkers should never have to worry that the products being sold in their communities could seriously harm their families," said Attorney General James. "These illegal pesticides are dangerous and unregulated, and my office is taking action to stop the flow of these products at its source. I am grateful to DEC for its partnership in protecting public health and keeping our communities safe."

"The use of unregistered pesticides is unlawful in New York State and poses potential significant risks to human health and the environment," said DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton. "This coordinated effort involving DEC's Division of Law Enforcement and Bureau of Pesticides Management and the Office of the Attorney General should serve as a reminder to wholesalers, distributors, and retailers across the state that DEC and our partners will be out in force this spring and summer to ensure the proper and legal use of pesticides as we work to protect families in New York City and beyond."

The OAG investigation is focused on the illegal sale of "Sniper," a highly toxic, unregistered insecticide that has been linked to numerous poisoning cases reported to the New York City Poison Center. As part of its investigation, OAG has been working to identify the importers and distributors bringing this dangerous product into New York. The investigation uncovered evidence that certain wholesalers in the Bronx are part of the supply chain for these products, prompting this week's coordinated enforcement action. At the warehouses, DEC inspectors identified and quarantined illegal pesticide products, prohibiting their sale or distribution. At the same time, an OAG investigator served cease-and-desist letters ordering the businesses to immediately stop all illegal activity.

It is illegal to sell or distribute pesticides in New York that have not been approved by both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and DEC. Many of the products under investigation are especially dangerous for household use and pose significant risks to children and families.

Attorney General James thanks DEC for its collaboration and partnership on this matter. The investigation is ongoing.

This case is being handled for OAG by Assistant Attorneys General Channing Wistar-Jones of the Environmental Protection Bureau and Adam Shoop and Kurtis Falcone of the Harlem Regional Office, with assistance from Investigative Specialist Lorenzo Hernandez and Environmental Scientist Amelia Grant-Alfieri, under the supervision of Environmental Protection Bureau Chief Lemuel M. Srolovic and Deputy Assistant Attorney General in Charge of the Harlem Regional Office Roberto Lebron. The Environmental Protection Bureau is a part of the Division for Social Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Meghan Faux, and the Harlem Regional Office is a part of the Division of Regional Affairs, which is led by Deputy Attorney General Jill Faber, both overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.