Criminal Enforcement

EPA’s criminal enforcement program enforces the nation’s laws by investigating cases, collecting evidence, conducting forensic analyses and providing legal guidance to assist in the prosecution of criminal conduct that threatens people’s health and the environment.

May 23 – Delaware Company Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Discharges of Oil in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana

A Delaware company pleaded guilty today in federal court in the Eastern District of Louisiana to negligently discharging oil into the bayous of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, the Department of Justice announced.

Cedyco Corporation, headquartered in Houston, pleaded guilty to three counts of violating the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act). The Clean Water Act makes it a misdemeanor to negligently discharge harmful quantities of oil into navigable waters of the United States. Read more in the press release (PDF) (3 pp, 29K About PDF)

May 21 – Two Former District Department of the Environment Officials Sentenced to a Year in Prison on Federal Bribery Charges

WASHINGTON – Joe L. Parrish and Gregory A. Scott, former inspectors at the District of Columbia Department of the Environment (DDOE), Air Quality Division, were sentenced to one–year prison terms for demanding and receiving $20,000 in cash as bribes for not reporting serious environmental infractions and assessing fines and penalties.

Parrish, of Windsor Mill, Maryland, and Scott, of Temple Hills, Maryland, each pled guilty in March 2012 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of solicitation and receipt of a bribe by a public official. The Honorable Robert L. Wilkins sentenced them today. Upon completion of their prison terms, both men will be placed on two years of supervised release. During that time, each must perform 100 hours of community service. Read more in the press release (PDF) (3 pp, 27K About PDF)

• Ship’s Captain Convicted of Obstructing a Coast Guard Inspection (PDF) (1 pg, 20K About PDF) – May 18
• HP Boston Building, LLC. pleads guilty to felony violation of Clean Air Act in connection with asbestos removed during renovation work (PDF) (2 pp, 120K About PDF) – May 17
• Manhattan Man Pleads Guilty In Federal Court To Distributing And Selling Illegal Pesticides In Chinatown (PDF) (2 pp, 27K About PDF) – May 14

Investigations
The EPA investigates allegations of criminal wrongdoing prohibited by various environmental statutes.
EPA Fugitives | Special Agents | Remembering Our Fallen Agents | Signs of Environmental Violations | What is an Environmental Crime? | More...

Intergovernmental Partnerships
Alliances of regulatory and law enforcement organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada that promote the effective enforcement.
Environmental Crimes Task Force | National Environmental Crime Prevention Week | More...

Case Activities
Criminal case results which include press releases, case write ups in The Summary of Criminal Prosecution and yearly highlights.
2012 Press Releases | The Summary of Criminal Prosecutions | 2011 End of Year Report | Environmental Crimes Case Bulletins | More...

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