People in the area may have been exposed to asbestos because of a Rochester contractor.

A federal grand jury in Rochester has returned a 15-count indictment against 51-year-old Keith Gordon-Smith on charges involving illegal asbestos removal, falsifying documents and lying to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

The U.S. Attorney's Office of the Western District of New York says Smith faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The charges stem from the defendant’s work at Gordon-Smith Contracting.

Anyone who was at Bloomfield Elementary School from June 21, 2006 until the present, Hastings Center for Academics at Roberts Wesleyan College from October 15, 2007 to present, and the west wing of the former Genesee Hospital from January 1, 2007 to present may have been exposed to asbestos.

The Bloomfield Central School District and Roberts Wesleyan College both responded Friday to Gordon-Smith’s indictment.

In a statement, Bloomfield Central said, "The district has had independent testing done and has been assured that there is no asbestos safety concern."

Roberts Wesleyan College Provost Robert Zwier said, "We are confident that all our buildings are safe and healthy environments for our students."