PALM BEACH POLO HOLDINGS AND ITS PRESIDENT CHARGED WITH VIOLATING CLEAN WATER ACT IN WELLINGTON
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Maureen O’Hara, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Criminal Investigation Division, announced filing of an indictment of Palm Beach Polo Holdings, Inc., and its president, Glenn Straub, 63, of Wellington, with two counts of violating the Clean Water Act, Title 33, United States Code, Section 1319(c)(2)(A). The defendants are expected to make an initial appearance in federal court in Ft. Lauderdale on June 30, 2010 at 10 a.m.
According to the indictment, which was returned yesterday, Palm Beach Polo Holdings and Straub violated the Clean Water Act by knowingly discharging pollutants into waters of the United States, including wetlands, during June and July 2005, without a permit. The affected wetlands are located in properties that, at that time, were owned by Palm Beach Polo Holdings. The affected properties are described in the indictment as Peacock Pond and Parcel F, or Pod F, in the Wellington Country Place Planned Unit Development in the Village of Wellington, in Palm Beach County.
If convicted of the charges, Palm Beach Polo Holdings faces a criminal fine in the amount of $50,000 per day of violation, or $500,000, whichever is greater, as to each count. Straub faces up to three (3) years’ imprisonment for each count.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the Special Agents of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose A. Bonau.
An indictment is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Attachments:
Indictment (PDF)
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
