Bruce Douglas Spangrud, Fraud, OR 1996

Portland, OR – Bruce Douglas Spangrud was sentenced to ten months in federal prison in December 1995 after being convicted of defrauding the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The case, originating in 1994, centered around falsified data submitted to secure registration for water filtration devices manufactured by Accufliter International, Inc., of which Spangrud was a principal.

Accufliter produced and sold both three-stage water filters and five-stage water purifiers. The three-stage filters contained silver, a component requiring EPA registration under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Crucially, registration hinged on demonstrating that the silver within the filters wouldn’t leach into drinking water at levels exceeding established EPA safety standards.

The company initially received EPA approval for two types of its three-stage filters in November 1992. However, a subsequent investigation in March 1994 revealed significant discrepancies between the data provided by Accufliter and the independent laboratory contracted to perform the necessary silver leaching analyses. Investigators found the submitted documentation to be deliberately misleading, suggesting an attempt to bypass regulatory requirements.

Spangrud was initially charged on September 28, 1994, with two counts of making false statements in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001. He entered a guilty plea to one count in February 1995, but the plea was rejected by the U.S. Attorney’s Office after further scrutiny of the evidence. The case proceeded to trial, and on September 20, 1995, a jury found Spangrud guilty on both original counts.

In addition to the ten-month prison sentence, Judge Ancer Haggerty ordered Spangrud to serve a 36-month term of supervised release following his incarceration. He was also mandated to pay $112,731.99 in restitution, presumably to cover the costs associated with the EPA’s investigation and any remediation efforts. The case highlights the EPA’s commitment to enforcing regulations surrounding water purification technology and holding individuals accountable for submitting fraudulent information.

The falsification of data regarding water filter safety is a serious offense, impacting public health and potentially exposing consumers to dangerous levels of contaminants. This case serves as a stark reminder that companies and individuals involved in the manufacturing and sale of products impacting public safety will face prosecution for any attempts to deceive regulators or the public.

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Key Facts

Defendant: Bruce Douglas Spangrud
Company: Accufliter International, Inc.
State: Oregon
Year: 1996
Statute Violated: 18 U.S.C. § 1001 (False Statements)
Penalty: 10 months incarceration, 36 months supervised release, $112,731.99 restitution
Crime: Fraudulent submission of data to the EPA regarding silver leaching in water filters.
Regulatory Framework: FIFRA (Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act)

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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