Project Manager Pleads Guilty to Lying to Inspectors Regarding Asbestos Removal from Former Federal Building

Contact Person: Winston David Holiday, Jr (803) 929-3000

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Albert Dickson, age 61, of Red Bank, New Jersey, has entered a guilty plea in federal court in Charleston, to Making a False Statement Under the Clean Water Act, a violation of 33 U.S.C. § 1319(c)(4).  United States District Judge Patrick Michael Duffy of Charleston accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Dickson at a later date.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Albert Dickson was the project manager overseeing renovations of the L. Mendel River Federal Building in Charleston in the spring and early summer of 2011.  SC DHEC inspectors visited the site in June and noticed asbestos violations, including sweeping asbestos-containing materials down open drains.  When questioned, Dickson indicated that a filtration system had been in place at the time of the inspections.  Evidence indicated that it had not been installed until after June 6, 2011, when the violations were observed.

Mr. Nettles stated the maximum penalty for Making a False Statement Under the Clean Water Act is imprisonment for 2 years and/or a fine of $10,000.

United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated, “I am particularly pleased that we held accountable an individual who valued this particular project above the health and safety of the citizens of Charleston.  We hope this guilty plea serves as a reminder that, where environmental violations are found, they will be punished.”

The case was investigated by agents of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.  Assistant United States Attorney Winston David Holliday, Jr. of the Columbia office is prosecuting the case.

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