Frankfort, KY – Aaron Micah Jamison, former CEO of Micah Group, LLC, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison on September 24, 2020, following a guilty plea earlier that year. The case, investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division (EPA-CID), revealed a pattern of fraud, embezzlement, and unlawful hazardous waste storage spanning several years.
Jamison, 51, spearheaded a scheme to misappropriate over $30,000 in 401(k) contributions withheld from Micah Group employees between March 2016 and October 2016. Instead of remitting these funds to the designated retirement accounts, Jamison diverted them for personal use and to bolster his company’s finances. He further defrauded employees by failing to forward $4,843.73 in pre-tax health insurance contributions to the insurer between April and May of 2017.
The fraud extended beyond employee benefits. Micah Group provided groundwater monitoring well abandonment services across Kentucky, billing the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet for the work. However, Jamison admitted to routinely signing off on completion reports for wells that had *not* been properly abandoned. This deliberate falsification of records, perpetrated with co-conspirators, allowed Micah Group to collect approximately $640,000 in fraudulent payments between 2013 and 2017, ensuring both company income and employee paychecks were met through deceptive practices.
Adding to the litany of offenses, investigators discovered that Jamison knowingly stored hazardous waste at Micah Group’s premises at various times between January 2016 and December 2017, violating federal environmental regulations. The specific nature of the hazardous waste has not been publicly disclosed, but the unlawful storage posed a potential risk to public health and the environment.
Legal Ramifications
Jamison pleaded guilty to theft from an employee benefits plan, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and unlawful storage of hazardous waste. The sentencing judge considered the severity of the offenses and the significant financial harm caused to employees and the state of Kentucky. Specifically, Jamison violated 18 U.S.C. 664 (Theft or Embezzlement from Employee Benefit Plans), 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A) and 18 U.S.C. 371 (Conspiracy to Commit Offenses Against the United States). In addition to the 36-month prison sentence, Jamison was ordered to pay $640,638.31 in restitution and will be subject to three years of supervised release following his incarceration.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Aaron Micah Jamison
- Company: Micah Group, LLC
- Location: Kentucky
- Years of Activity: 2013 – 2017
- Fraudulent Payments: Approximately $640,000
- Embezzled 401(k) Funds: Over $30,000
- Unremitted Health Contributions: $4,843.73
- Sentence: 36 months imprisonment, $640,638.31 restitution, 3 years supervised release
The EPA-CID continues to prioritize cases involving environmental crimes and financial fraud, demonstrating a commitment to holding individuals accountable for endangering communities and defrauding workers. This case serves as a stark reminder that environmental compliance and financial integrity are paramount, and those who violate these principles will face the full force of the law.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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