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FLORIDA MAN AND COMPANY PLEAD GUILTY TO HAZARDOUS WASTE CRIME
Release Date: 01/08/99
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FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 1999
FLORIDA MAN AND COMPANY PLEAD GUILTY TO HAZARDOUS WASTE CRIME
Manuel Edward Rojas and his corporation, Latin Van Lines Inc., of Miami, Fla. pleaded guilty on Dec. 15, 1998 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in Miami to illegally storing hazardous wastes in violation of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Rojas met with an undercover officer of the Florida Marine Patrol in April 1997 and arranged for the agent to remove and dump drums that had accumulated on the premises of Latin Van Lines. During the meeting, Rojas allegedly indicated that he wanted the work done as cheaply as possible, without compliance with state and federal environmental laws. Rojas offered to pay the officer $750 to dump the drums some of which contained ignitable hazardous wastes. As a result, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Bureau of Emergency Response (FBER) spent $53,027.94 to properly dispose of all of the drums. As part of the plea agreement, Rojas has agreed to pay a fine of $100,000 and reimburse FBER for the costs it incurred. Rojas also faces a maximum possible sentence of up to five years in prison when he is sentenced in February. This case was investigated by EPA Criminal Investigation Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, the Florida Marine Patrol, and FBER, and was prosecuted by the U.S. Department of Justice.
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