William Robles, Pesticide Law Violation, Florida 2024

William Robles, 59, of Fort Lauderdale, and his company AAA Pest Protection Inc. d/b/a AAA Pest Control, Inc., were sentenced today in Miami federal court for knowingly violating federal pesticide laws through the illegal application of the restricted use fumigant sulfuryl fluoride. The operation, which spanned years, endangered residents across South Florida by bypassing critical safety protocols designed to prevent exposure to a toxic gas capable of causing serious injury or death.

Robles was hit with the statutory maximum: one year in federal prison and a $30,000 criminal fine. His company, AAA Pest, received five years probation, a $35,000 fine, and must pay restitution to victims. The court also ordered the company to implement a comprehensive environmental compliance and employee training program. In a related case, Pierce Long, 53, of Oakland Park, Florida, was previously sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom to one year in prison for his role in the same criminal scheme.

The charges stem from violations of Title 7, United States Code, Section 136j(a)(2)(G), related to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Sulfuryl fluoride—a restricted pesticide registered with the EPA and used in termite fumigation—must be applied only by or under the direct supervision of certified applicators. Safety labels mandate proper aeration, clearance testing with calibrated detection devices, and hazard warnings. Robles and his crew ignored nearly every rule.

Court documents reveal that in 2016, AAA Pest conducted two fumigations without warning residents, failed to post hazard signs, neglected to use employee protective gear, and skipped required aeration and clearance procedures. More damning, Robles admitted to skipping the use of a functioning, calibrated fumigant detection device in approximately 580 fumigations between March 21, 2013, and April 17, 2015—endangering hundreds of households.

“Today’s sentencing sends an important message to companies, business owners, and employees that knowing violations of federal environmental laws will not be tolerated,” said Benjamin G. Greenberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. “Those who engage in such dangerous and reckless conduct will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law in light of the serious consequences for the consumer public.”

The EPA and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services played key roles in the investigation. Andy Castro, Special Agent in Charge of the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division, Atlanta Area Office, emphasized that following labeled instructions isn’t optional—it’s a legal and moral obligation. When pest control companies cut corners, they don’t just break the law—they poison trust and put lives on the line.

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