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8/20/2025
WT Staff
 Knowledge of an environmental crime? Give us a call at 877-52-WATER (877-529-2837), or email info@wtga.us
Aug 20, 2025 203 pm EDT
CrimeBox
Clean Water Act Conviction Fiscal Year 2010; Case ID# CR_1967 (Georgia)
City Public Works Director sent to prison for illegal discharge and false statements
The defendant in this case was Director of the Public Works Department at City of Harlem. Within the portfolio of Public Works is the operation and management of the City wastewater treatment plant. The Director of Public Works holds the top level responsibility for the WWTP and its lawful obligation to comply with Clean Water Act laws and its discharge permit.
Federal district court for the Southern District of Georgia heard the case against the defendant, a total of twelve felony violations of the CWA for knowingly discharging contaminants without a permit, and making false statements about these discharges.
The defendant plead guilty to three charges, admitting to making false statements, reporting inaccurate volume and characteristics of the effluent released from the publicly owned treatment works. Specifically, fecal coliform and biochemical oxygen demand levels were knowingly misrepresented in the reports made to the environmental authorities overseeing the discharge permit and compliance. The court heard that the defendant had knowingly released material from the City facilities via portable pump directly into a creek, without a permit to do so.
The high level of responsibility vested in a municipal Public Works Director was considered in the sentencing. A full year behind bars followed with a year of supervised release, for using the authority of the Directorship to betray the public trust with false reports.
Prison: 12 months; Federal Fine: $3,000; Probation: 12 months; Community Service: 100 hours
See last SDWA Legal, "Idaho ammonia release kills tens of thousands of fish", here.
SDWA CrimeBox briefs are compiled from EPA Criminal Enforcement records.
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