Five face manslaughter charges in deadly NYC building explosion

NEW YORK, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Five people are facing manslaughter and other charges in connection to an explosion last year that left two dead in New York City's East Village.

The owner of the building was among the group arrested after the March 26 blast at 121 Second Ave. The charges stem from alleged tampering with a gas line in the building to siphon natural gas from a sushi restaurant to service apartments in the upper floors. Moises Locon, 26, and Nicholas Figueroa, 23, who were dining separately at the ground-floor sushi restaurant, died in the explosion. Two dozen others were injured.

There was a total of 22 counts in the indictment against the five defendants.

Also among those arrested was a plumber who allegedly used his professional license to let someone else do work on the building and a building manager.