Environmental Crime Press Releases

August 15, 2014

TESORO: DOJ Closes Investigation of 2010 Explosion at Tesoro Refinery with No Charges

April 14, 2014

CALDWELL: Longview Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Sewage Dumping Scheme

March 13, 2014

XU: Apartment Owner and Company Sentenced for Clean Air Act Violations

December 18, 2013

CALDWELL: Longview Septic Pumping Company and Owner Found Guilty of Repeatedly Violating the Clean Water Act

March 18, 2013

SIMPSON: Owner of 'Davey Crockett' Barge Sentenced to Prison for Oil Spill on Columbia River

December 14, 2012

JOHNSTON: Brinnon Man Sentenced to Prison for Theft of Trees from Olympic National Forest

October 10, 2012

STOWE: Prominent Pierce County Developer Sentenced to Prison for Violations of Clean Water Act

September 28, 2012

BARBER: Operator of Wastewater Treatment Plant at Mount Rainier Pleads Guilty to Illegal Dumping of Sewage

July 12, 2012

SIMPSON: Owner of 'Davy Crockett' Barge Pleads Guilty to Clean Water Act Violations for Oil Spill on Columbia River

May 25, 2012

DOOLEY: Seattle Business Owner Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison for Directing Teenage Employee to Dump Hazardous Chemicals and for Witness Tampering

April 20, 2012

HARBOR SEAFOOD: DOJ and Seafood Importer Reach Settlement over 112 Tons of Illegally Imported Russian King Crab

April 12, 2012

STOWE: Prominent Pierce County Developer Pleads Guilty to Criminal Violation of the Clean Water Act

January 27, 2012

DOOLEY: Seattle Man Convicted of Environmental Crimes and Witness Tampering in Industrial Dumping Incident

November 10, 2011

JOHNSTON: Brinnon Man Indicted for Tree Theft From Olympic National Forest

September 29, 2011

SIMPSON: Owner of 'Davey Crockett' Indicted for Oil Spill on the Columbia River

August 4, 2011

DOOLEY: Seattle Business Owner Indicted for Industrial Incident that Exposed Juvenile Worker to Chlorine Gas

June 15, 2011

DARIGOLD: Company Pleads Guilty to Clean Water Act Violation

April 1, 2011

JAY: Fish Processor Sentenced to Prison For Selling Falsely Labeled Salmon

1/10/11 SMITH
SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON DEVELOPER SENTENCED FOR ILLEGALLY FILLING WETLANDS
Defendant Filled Critical Wetlands in Effort to Ink Deal for Equestrian Center

1/7/11 ROEMPKE
AUBURN CAR DEALER SENTENCED FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE CLEAN AIR ACT
Removed Asbestos Without Proper Permits or Safeguards

10/13/10 ROEMPKE
AUBURN CAR DEALER PLEADS GUILTY TO VIOLATIONS OF THE CLEAN AIR ACT
Removed Asbestos Without Proper Permits or Safeguards

9/20/10 SMITH
SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON DEVELOPER PLEADS GUILTY TO ILLEGALLY FILLING WETLANDS
Defendant Filled Critical Wetlands in Effort to Ink Deal for Equestrian Center

8/10/10 RANDALL
QUILCENE MAN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR THEFT IN CONNECTION WITH CUTTING OF MAPLE TREES ON NATIONAL FOREST LAND
“Music Wood” Trees Felled, Cut and Sold Using Falsified Permit

4/16/10 RANDALL
QUILCENE MAN CONVICTED OF THEFT IN CONNECTION WITH CUTTING OF MAPLE TREES ON NATIONAL FOREST LAND
“Music Wood” Trees Felled, Cut and Sold Using Falsified Permit

3/22/10 CHINA NAVIGATION
SHIPPING COMPANY PLEADS GUILTY TO FALSIFYING WASTE RECORDS
Agrees to Fine, Community Service Payment and Enhanced Environmental Compliance Measures

3/22/10 ROEMPKE
AUBURN CAR DEALER AND CONTRACTORS INDICTED FOR CONSPIRACY, FALSE STATEMENT AND VIOLATIONS OF CLEAN AIR ACT
Men Conspired to Remove Asbestos Without Proper Permits and Safeguards

1/25/10 HURST
WOODLAND WASHINGTON HUNTER SENTENCED FOR ILLEGALLY HUNTING WITHIN OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK

12/17/09 PRONGHORN
FORMER OPERATOR OF BEND, OREGON GOLF RESORT RESOLVES CASE INVOLVING UNAUTHORIZED REMOVAL OF NATIVE PLANTS
Thousands of Plants from Public Land Used For Golf Course Landscaping

10/28/09 SANCHEZ ROMAN
TACOMA RESIDENT SENTENCED FOR ILLEGALLY DUMPING OILY WASTE INTO CITY WASTEWATER SYSTEM
Defendant Used Self-Serve Car Wash to Dump Cooking Grease

9/15/09 SCHULTZ
THREE SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON MEN SENTENCED FOR FISHING VIOLATIONS
Two Fishermen and Fish Company Manager Face Thousands in Fines

9/3/09 SMITH
SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON DEVELOPER INDICTED FOR FILLING WETLANDS
Defendant Filled Critical Wetlands in Effort to Ink Deal for Equestrian Center

6/16/09 ALLEN
TIMBER MANAGEMENT COMPANY OWNER SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR CUTTING DOWN EAGLE NEST TREE
Elma Man Lied Repeatedly About Tree Removal to Allow Development

5/15/09 JAMES
THREE GRAYS HARBOR COUNTY MEN ORDERED TO PAY NEARLY $340,000 IN RESTITUTION FOR ILLEGALLY CUTTING OLD GROWTH TIMBER
Old Growth Western Cedars Taken from Olympic National Forest

5/11/09 MAGNUSSON
RENTON ATTORNEY ORDERED TO REMOVE DOCK AND BOAT LIFT ON LAKE WASHINGTON FOR VIOLATING FEDERAL RIVERS AND HARBORS ACT

4/10/09 JAMES
ABERDEEN MAN SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS IN PRISON FOR TIMBER THEFT FROM NATIONAL FOREST
Thirty-One Old Growth Western Cedars Taken from Olympic National Forest

2/17/09 MAGNUSSON
RENTON RESIDENT FOUND GUILTY OF VIOLATING FEDERAL LAW BY BUILDING AND MAINTAINING ILLEGAL DOCK AND BOATLIFT ON LAKE WASHINGTON

1/23/09 BROWN
HUMPTULIPS MAN GETS PRISON TIME FOR TIMBER THEFT FROM NATIONAL FOREST
Old Growth Western Cedars Taken from Olympic National Forest

12/30/08 YANG
CAPTAIN OF KOREAN FLAGGED SHIP SENTENCED FOR DUMPING HUNDREDS OF POUNDS OF OIL CONTAMINATED WASTE AND PLASTIC INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN
First Prosecution in Washington for Dumping of Plastics and Garbage from Marine Cargo Vessel

10/3/08 STX PAN OCEAN
KOREAN SHIPPING COMPANY PLEADS GUILTY TO DUMPING HUNDREDS OF POUNDS OF OIL CONTAMINATED WASTE AND PLASTIC INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN - First Prosecution in Washington for Dumping of Plastics and Garbage from Marine Cargo Vessel

9/22/08 TIMBER THEFT
THREE PLEAD GUILTY IN TIMBER THEFT FROM NATIONAL FOREST - Murdered Forest Service Officer was Lead Investigator on Case

9/12/08 CAM
FEDS SETTLE WITH OREGON MAN OVER FILLING OF WETLANDS AT SW WASHINGTON RESORT - Couple Agrees to Repair Damage and Pay $30,000 Penalty

7/1/08 WHALE SENTENCING
MAKAH TRIBAL MEMBERS SENTENCED FOR VIOLATING MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT - Two Who Took Most Active Role, Leading Hunt, Sentenced to Jail Time

4/29/08 NNC
EGYPTIAN CORPORATION PLEADS GUILTY TO ILLEGAL OCEAN DUMPING - Will Pay $7.25 Million in Criminal Fines

4/8/08 MAKAH
TWO MAKAH TRIBAL MEMBERS FOUND GUILTY OF VIOLATING MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT BY KILLING GRAY WHALE - Men Agree to Bench Trial - Judge Finds Them Guilty Based on Written Statement of Facts

3/28/08 MAKAH TRIBE
THREE MAKAH TRIBAL MEMBERS PLEAD GUILTY TO KILLING GRAY WHALE - Two Defendants, Who Played Largest Role in Hunt, Will Face Trial

3/26/08 BONNEVILLE HOT SPRINGS
OREGON MAN SUED OVER FILLING OF WETLANDS AT SW WASHINGTON RESORT - Complaint Alleges Violation of Clean Water Act

10/4/07 GRAY WHALE
GRAND JURY INDICTS FIVE MAKLAH TRIBAL MEMBERS FOR KILLING GRAY WHALE - Defendants Face Misdemeanor Charges Punishable by up to One Year in Jail

9/26/07 JAMES
THREE OLYMPIC PENINSULA MEN INDICTED FOR TIMBER THEFT - Allegedly Conspired to Cut thirty-one Old Growth Cedar Trees from Public Lands

8/28/07 STORM
UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR SENTENCED FOR ILLEGAL DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS WASTE - Pharmacology Professor Dumped Highly Flammable Material Down the Drain

6/26/07 CALYPSO
GREEK SHIPPING COMPANY PLEADS GUILTY IN "MAGIC PIPE" POLLUTION SCHEME - Calypso Marine Agrees to $1,000,000 Fine for Dumping Oily Waste

3/7/07 STORM
UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR PLEADS GUILTY TO ILLEGAL DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS WASTE - Pharmacology Professor Dumped Highly Flammable Material Down the Drain

1/23/07 IRIKA
SHIPPING LINE PAYS $750,000 IN FINES AND ASSESSMENTS FOR ILLEGAL OCEAN DUMPING - Money Will Fund Environmental Projects in Washington and Award for Whistle Blower

7/4/06 MARINE CONSERVATION FUND
MARINE CONSERVATION FUND AWARDS $1.7 MILLION IN GRANTS TO RESTORE PUGET SOUND - Funding Comes from Settlement with Shipping Line That Used "Magic Pipe" to Illegally Dump Oil

6/2/06 COON
SEQUIM FATHER AND SON SENTENCED TO PROBATION FOR BIRD BAITING - Practice Leads to Slaughter of Ducks in Hunting Areas

4/4/05 EVERGREEN
Evergreen to Pay Largest-Ever Penalty for Concealing Vessel Pollution