Vernon, CA – Behzad Kahoolyzadeh was sentenced in January 2006 to 37 months in federal prison, followed by 36 months of probation, for his role in a widespread hazardous waste fraud scheme. Kahoolyzadeh, associated with the now-defunct dry cleaning waste handler AAD (Advanced Analytical Devices), conspired to illegally store and transport dangerous levels of tetrachloroethylene, commonly known as PERC, a known carcinogen and major groundwater contaminant in Southern California.
AAD, once one of the largest companies handling dry cleaning waste in the state, charged dry cleaners for the proper collection, treatment, and disposal of PERC. However, rather than adhering to environmental regulations, Kahoolyzadeh and his associates engaged in a deliberate effort to deceive inspectors and skirt legal requirements. The scheme involved temporarily moving drums of PERC waste to unpermitted facilities before inspections, then falsifying shipping manifests to conceal the illegal activity.
Federal prosecutors detailed how AAD contracted with High Voltage Transportation System (HVTS), owned by co-defendant Lind, to transport the hazardous waste across state lines to facilities in Washington, Colorado, Beatty, Nevada, and Idaho. HVTS knowingly aided in the concealment of the illegal storage and transportation, further compounding the environmental risk. Lind pled guilty in November 2000 to one count of conspiracy and three counts of violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
The investigation, led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), revealed a systematic pattern of violations designed to cut costs at the expense of public health and environmental safety. The deliberate circumvention of regulations created a significant threat of groundwater contamination, potentially impacting communities across multiple states. The fraudulent activity continued for years before authorities uncovered the scheme.
Legal Ramifications & Penalties
Kahoolyzadeh was charged with conspiracy (18 U.S.C. 371) and multiple violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), including illegal storage (42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(B)), illegal transportation (42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(1)), transportation without a manifest (42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(5)), and knowingly violating RCRA regulations (42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A)). In addition to his prison sentence and probation, Kahoolyzadeh was ordered to pay $1.29 million in restitution for cleanup costs, jointly and severally with Lind.
Lind received a 36-month probation sentence, including six months of home detention, a $400 special assessment fee, and was ordered to pay $50,746 in restitution – $24,934 to the U.S. EPA Superfund and $25,812.15 to the San Bernardino County Fire Hazmat Division. The case highlights the serious consequences of environmental crimes and the EPA’s commitment to holding polluters accountable.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Behzad Kahoolyzadeh
- Company Involved: Advanced Analytical Devices (AAD)
- Crime: Hazardous Waste Fraud, Illegal Storage & Transportation of PERC
- Location: Vernon, California
- Year: 2006
- Statutes Violated: 18 U.S.C. 371, 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(1), 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(B), 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(5), 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A)
- Sentence: 37 months incarceration, 36 months probation, $1.29 million restitution
- Co-Defendant: Lind (owner of High Voltage Transportation System – HVTS)
- PERC is a known carcinogen and a leading contaminant of groundwater in Southern California.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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