WILMINGTON, NC – A former Town of Cary employee has been sentenced for deliberately falsifying drinking water sampling results, potentially endangering the health of over 225,000 residents. Christopher Dale Miller, 41, pleaded guilty in September 2016 and was sentenced in February 2017 to one year of probation, 120 hours of community service, and ordered to pay $14,437 in restitution.
Miller, a state-certified distribution technician, was responsible for collecting and testing water samples from Cary’s drinking water system to ensure compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act. Between August 27, 2014, and December 2014, investigators discovered Miller falsified documentation for at least 278 samples. Instead of collecting samples from multiple designated locations, Miller routinely took samples from only a few sites and falsely certified the documentation as if proper procedures had been followed.
The scheme was uncovered in late December 2014 when the Town of Cary conducted an internal investigation after noticing discrepancies. Initially, Miller lied to his supervisors, but eventually confessed to manipulating the sampling process and falsifying chain of custody records. The falsified results were then submitted to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ), hindering the agency’s ability to accurately monitor and protect the public water supply.
Investigation and Prosecution
The investigation was a joint effort between the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Criminal Investigation Division and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation – Drug Diversion and Environmental Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Banumathi Rangarajan led the prosecution for the Eastern District of North Carolina, with support from EPA Region IV – Regional Criminal Enforcement Counsel/Special Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Lewis.
Legal Ramifications
Miller was found to have violated Title 18 U.S. Criminal Code, specifically 18 U.S.C. 1001, which prohibits knowingly making false statements to the federal government. While the sentence included probation and community service, the financial restitution aims to cover the costs associated with the investigation and corrective actions taken by the Town of Cary and NCDEQ. The relatively light sentence has raised questions among some environmental advocates about the severity of penalties for crimes that directly impact public health and safety.
Town of Cary Response
The Town of Cary acted swiftly upon discovering the fraudulent activity, terminating Miller’s employment and fully cooperating with both the state and federal investigations. Officials emphasized their commitment to maintaining the integrity of the drinking water system and ensuring public trust. The town implemented additional quality control measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Christopher Dale Miller
- Location: Cary, North Carolina
- Crime: Falsifying drinking water sampling results
- Dates of Fraud: August 27, 2014 – December 2014
- Number of Samples Falsified: At least 278
- Population Potentially Affected: 225,000+
- Statute Violated: 18 U.S.C. 1001
- Sentence: 1 year probation, 120 hours community service, $14,437 restitution
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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