Amherst, NY – Acquest Transit, LLC, a now-defunct company based in Amherst, New York, has been slapped with a hefty fine and probationary sentence after being found guilty of criminal contempt for deliberately violating a federal court order. The case, stemming from a long-running dispute over protected wetlands, highlights the serious consequences of defying judicial rulings related to environmental regulations.
According to court documents and a statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York on March 9, 2016, Acquest Transit, LLC, owned and managed solely by William L. Huntress, purchased a 97-acre property located at 10880 Transit Road in 2006 for $425,000. Shortly thereafter, the Department of Justice initiated civil proceedings alleging illegal filling of federally protected wetlands on the property.
Wetland Dispute & Initial Injunction
The civil lawsuit accused Acquest Transit of unlawfully altering the wetlands. In July 2009, Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny issued a preliminary injunction specifically prohibiting any further earthmoving or filling activities on the site. This order was intended to preserve the environmental integrity of the wetlands pending the outcome of the civil case. However, investigators discovered that the injunction was blatantly disregarded.
Willful Violation & Criminal Contempt
On May 25, 2010, a farmer, reportedly acting under the direction of Acquest Transit, used mechanized agricultural equipment to perform earthmoving activities on the very land Judge Skretny had ordered protected. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango argued, and the court agreed, that this action constituted a *willful* violation of the injunction, escalating the offense to criminal contempt. The deliberate nature of the violation was a key factor in the sentencing.
Sentence & Legal Ramifications
Judge Skretny sentenced Acquest Transit, LLC, to a $250,000 fine and two years of probation. The company’s disregard for the court order and subsequent conviction serve as a stark warning to others who might attempt to circumvent environmental regulations or defy judicial authority. The case underscores the government’s commitment to enforcing environmental laws and holding accountable those who willfully violate them. The prosecution fell under Title 18 U.S. Criminal Code, specifically 18 U.S.C. 401(3), which addresses criminal contempt of court.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Acquest Transit, LLC
- Location: Amherst, New York
- Crime: Criminal Contempt of Court (violation of federal injunction)
- Date of Sentencing: March 9, 2016
- Fine: $250,000
- Probation: Two years
- Underlying Issue: Illegal filling of federally protected wetlands
- Statute Violated: 18 U.S.C. 401(3)
GrimyTimes will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments. The fate of William L. Huntress, the sole member and manager of Acquest Transit, LLC, remains unclear, although the company itself is effectively defunct following the sentencing.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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