A New Jersey real estate developer and his company have pleaded guilty to violating safety regulations that resulted in the death of a construction worker in Poughkeepsie.

The U.S. Attorney's Office say the man was killed at 1 Dutchess Ave.

According to court filings, Finbar O'Neill, and his company, Onekey LLC, were bringing in large quantities of dirt for the sites of three future buildings and did not follow an engineering firm's safety plan on how to do so.

Instead, the U.S. Attorney's Office says they built a wall to hold back the dirt, never consulting with a qualified person to make sure it could withstand the weight.

While crews kept working next to the wall, officials say Onekey kept bringing in more and more dirt -- despite hearing people at the site say the wall was not safe.

On August 3, 2017, the wall collapsed. One worker tried to run away, but he could not get away in time, and was killed.

O'Neill and Onekey LLC will be sentenced on May 12. The company pleaded guilty to one count of willful violation of OSHA regulations resulting in death which carries a maximum fine of $500,000.  O’Neill, 57, of Paramus, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to one of count of willful violation of OSHA regulations resulting in death which carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.