Billy Ray Roberson, Sr. Indicted in Water Test Fraud Scheme

Billy Ray Roberson, Sr., 60, of Milton, Florida; Darin Lewis, 46, of Crestview, Florida; and Roberson Excavation, Inc., a Florida-based corporation, were indicted on federal charges of wire fraud conspiracy for a scheme to falsify water testing in Dale County, Alabama, announced U.S. Attorney George L. Beck, Jr. The indictment exposes a dangerous cover-up that put public health at risk for profit and schedule relief.

The scheme unfolded during a 2014 water line replacement project in the Marley Mill neighborhood, contracted by the Dale County Water Authority. Roberson Excavation, owned and operated by Roberson, fell three months behind schedule by February 2015. With $500 in daily penalties piling up, Roberson allegedly ordered site supervisor Darin Lewis to bypass required safety protocols and falsify critical test results — including those detecting harmful bacteria in the water supply.

Court documents reveal that the falsified tests were essential for certifying the safety of new water lines before activation. By manipulating results, the defendants attempted to conceal incomplete and unsafe work, deceiving regulators and residents alike. The fraud involved electronic communications, triggering the federal wire fraud charge.

If convicted, both Billy Ray Roberson, Sr. and Darin Lewis face a maximum of five years in federal prison. Roberson Excavation, Inc., the corporate defendant, could be fined up to $250,000. The charges carry the weight of deliberate endangerment, not just financial deception.

This case was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigations Division and the Office of Inspector General, underscoring the seriousness of tampering with public water systems. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Ross is leading the prosecution.

An indictment is not a conviction. Billy Ray Roberson, Sr., Darin Lewis, and Roberson Excavation, Inc. are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The case marks a rare but critical federal intervention into environmental and public infrastructure fraud.