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8/2/2024
WT Staff
 August 2, 2024 235 pm EDT
CWA CrimeBox
Environmental Crimes Historic Conviction: Fiscal Year 2007; Case ID# CR_1277(California)
Ship deliberately sunk, owner charged and convicted on eight counts
One of 72 Clean Water Act Criminal Prosecutions in the State of California (from 1989-2023)
The defendant in this case came to own one too many vessels for the number of berths available at dock. How many ways could this go wrong?
Federal district court in California was presented with a bill of information on the deliberate sinking of a 37 ft vessel, a total of nine charges against the vessel's owner including mishandling a vessel, making false statements, obstruction of justice, five violations of the Clean Water Act negligent discharge of contaminants into US waters, obstruction of navigable waters.
The abandoned vessel was found submerged in the passage channel near a busy California marina with multiple holes in the hull and identification numbers removed. Documents found onboard identified the owner by name, the defendant in this case, also a tenant of the nearby marina.
The defendant was convicted on eight of the nine charges, admitting to deliberate sinking of the first vessel to make way for a new house boat. The charges of mishandling a vessel, abandoning a vessel, obstruction of waterway and the discharge of effluents, oil and grease along with obstruction of justice resulted in a sentence of 6 years probation and a special assessment charge.
Federal Fine: 0; Special Assessment: $500; Probation: 72 months
CWA CrimeBox briefs are compiled from EPA Criminal Enforcement records.
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