The founder and principal of a Rockland-based roofing company was sentenced Wednesday to four months in prison for failing to protect an employee who fell to his death.

Jose Lema, 41, of Nanuet, was in federal court in White Plains for the sentencing. He was also sentenced to one year of supervised release.

The incident occurred in 2022, when Lema sent four ALJ Home Improvement, Inc. employees without fall protection equipment to install a roof on a three-story building in New Square.

One of the employees fell to the ground and died.

According to the U.S. Attorney:

“In imposing LEMA’s sentence, Judge McCarthy observed that Victim-1’s death was “avoidable” and noted LEMA’s repeated failures to comply with fall protection regulations after the first ALJ employee’s death from falling from a roof.”