Environmental Enforcement News

The owner of a company that produces and sells renewable fuel and fuel credits pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida to conspiracy for his role in a scheme that generated over $7 million in fraudulent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) renewable fuels credits and sought over $6 million in fraudulent tax credits connected to the purported production of biodiesel.

The Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) and Civil Division filed a statement of interest in a case in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin involving the potential shut down of the Line 5 pipeline operated by Enbridge.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Fredricus White, 38, and Cornelious Johnson, 41, both of Panama City, Florida, were sentenced to federal prison for possession of fighting dogs and firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. 

The U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska rejected an attempt to halt a project exploring federal oil and gas resources in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve.

A North Carolina man pleaded guilty to crimes based on his involvement with online groups dedicated to creating and distributing videos depicting acts of extreme violence and sexual abuse against monkeys.

PROVIDENCE – A Massachusetts man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island for sponsoring and exhibiting roosters in an animal fighting venture, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

Thao Duong of Garland, Texas, pleaded guilty for conspiring to smuggle and sell unregistered pesticides and misbranded veterinary drugs. Duong’s husband, Lam Mai, also pleaded guilty for conspiring to sell unregistered pesticides and misbranded veterinary drugs. The couple operated a website selling those drugs and pesticides, which had been smuggled into the United State from Mexico. They are scheduled to be sentenced on June 9.

The Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) filed a complaint in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California challenging California Senate Bill 1137 (SB 1137), which prevents oil and gas development activities within 3,200 feet of a so-called “sensitive receptor.” SB 1137 would knock out about one-third of all federally authorized oil and gas leases in California. This lawsuit argues that federal law — specifically, the Mineral Leasing Act and the Federal Land and Policy Management Act — preempts SB 1137.

A Massachusetts man was sentenced to 30 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and 100 hours of community service in connection with his involvement with online groups dedicated to creating and distributing videos depicting acts of extreme violence and sexual abuse against animals.

The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against two California cities over their ordinances banning natural gas infrastructure and appliances in new construction.

The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan granted Enbridge Energy Limited Partnership (Enbridge)’s motion for summary judgment and stopped the State of Michigan from shutting down a critical international pipeline called Line 5. In September, the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) and Civil Division filed a statement of interest in the case.