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Defendant Faces Up to Ten Years in Prison
A Kansas City area laboratory owner has been charged with illegally storing hazardous waste and obstructing an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proceeding.
Ahmed el-Sherif, 61, the owner/operator and radiation safety officer for Beta Chem Laboratory in Lenexa, Kansas, was charged in a two-count indictment announced by Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeff Wood and U.S. Attorney Tom Beall.
According to the indictment, el-Sherif’s laboratory, Beta Chem, used radioactive Carbon-14 and solvents in its operations, under license by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). In September 2005, KDHE performed an inspection of Beta Chem and discovered extensive radioactive contamination in the laboratory.
Over the ensuing years, KDHE communicated with el-Sherif about the radioactive contamination at Beta Chem, but he allegedly failed to take adequate steps to address the issue. In 2013, KDHE took control of Beta Chem and secured the facility, citing concerns about the radioactive contamination.
The EPA’s Superfund program subsequently engaged in a removal action and disposed of the hazardous waste at a cost of over $760,000. During the process of assessing el-Sherif’s ability to pay for cleanup costs, EPA requested financial information, which he allegedly submitted under false pretenses.
El-Sherif faces up to ten years in prison and a fine if convicted of both charges. The case is being prosecuted by the Environmental Crimes Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas.
Key Facts
- State: Kansas
- Category: Environmental Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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