Two Queens men and a company with locations in Brooklyn and Queens have been arraigned on charges of allegedly selling fraudulent construction safety cards to workers who did not complete required training.
Lutfur Rahman, 34, of Jamaica, Queens; Mohammed Tushar, 34, of Howard Beach, Queens; and Redcode Inc. were arraigned Sept. 10 before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun. Redcode operates at 529 McDonald Ave. in Brooklyn and 146-04 Hillside Ave. in Queens.
Investigators allege Redcode submitted false attendance information to the Department of Buildings and an OSHA-designated training intermediary, leading to cards being issued even though the required coursework had not been completed.
The defendants face three counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, three counts of second-degree receiving reward for official misconduct and six counts of second-degree falsifying business records. They were released without bail and are scheduled to return to court Nov. 4.
“Proper safety training is a foundational safeguard for everyone on a construction site. When individuals or companies cut corners and issue certifications without the required instruction, they undermine the integrity of our safety systems and endanger workers and the public," said Brooklyn District Attorney Gonzalez.
According to the investigation, undercover investigators from the New York City Department of Investigation visited Redcode locations between April 22 and July 16, 2025, posing as construction workers. Prosecutors allege Rahman and Tushar agreed to provide Site Safety Training and OSHA cards for $500 each without requiring the workers to complete the necessary training.
The alleged scheme could have allowed untrained workers to enter construction sites, potentially putting workers, coworkers and members of the public at risk. New York City requires construction workers to complete safety training before working on most city construction sites, including OSHA coursework and additional Site Safety Training.
The Department of Buildings has invalidated SST cards issued by Redcode. The case was investigated by the DOI’s Office of the Inspector General for the New York City School Construction Authority and is being prosecuted by the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office.
The indictment remains an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
