Cleve Ouellette, Mail Fraud, Idaho 2010

Boise, ID – Former Analytical Laboratories, Inc. supervisor Cleve Ouellette was sentenced on February 16, 2010, to six months of home confinement and three years of probation for a scheme that falsified public drinking water test results. The case, investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Criminal Investigation Division, reveals a deliberate pattern of negligence and deceit impacting the safety of Idaho’s public water systems.

Ouellette, an organic chemist, was responsible for operating a Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS) – a critical instrument for analyzing water quality – at Analytical Laboratories. Federal and state regulations mandate rigorous calibration of such equipment to ensure accurate readings. However, between January 2004 and April 2005, Ouellette knowingly bypassed this essential calibration process approximately 80% of the time he performed tests on public drinking water samples.

The implications of Ouellette’s actions are significant. Without proper calibration, the GC/MS instrument’s data was unreliable, potentially masking contamination or misrepresenting the true quality of the drinking water supplied to Idaho communities. Despite knowing the tests were flawed, Ouellette prepared and submitted fraudulent reports to clients, effectively billing them for inaccurate and potentially dangerous assessments.

The EPA’s investigation uncovered that Ouellette’s fraudulent activity wasn’t a matter of accidental oversight but a calculated effort to cut corners. He then knowingly submitted invoices for the falsified tests. On September 28, 2009, Ouellette was formally charged with one count of mail fraud, a violation of Title 18 U.S. Criminal Code Section 1341 (18 U.S.C. 1341). He subsequently entered a guilty plea, acknowledging his culpability in the scheme.

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Penalties & Prosecution

The court imposed a sentence of 36 months of probation, with the first six months to be served under home confinement. In addition to the restrictive conditions of his probation, Ouellette was ordered to pay a $3,000 federal fine. While some may view this penalty as lenient, federal prosecutors emphasized the importance of holding individuals accountable for compromising public health and safety.

Key Facts

Defendant: Cleve Ouellette
Location: Idaho
Years of Fraud: 2004-2005
Crime: Mail Fraud (18 U.S.C. 1341)
Instrument Involved: Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS)
Penalty: 6 months home confinement, 3 years probation, $3,000 fine
Impact: Falsified public drinking water test results, potentially endangering public health.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the critical role accurate environmental testing plays in safeguarding public health. The EPA continues to prioritize enforcement actions against those who attempt to defraud the system and put communities at risk.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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