Ohio man Michael L. Guesman, 34, from Cortland, has pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Clean Water Act after admitting to illegally discharging brine and oil-based drilling mud into a stormwater drain that flowed into the Mahoning River.
Guesman was an employee of Hardrock Excavating LLC in Youngstown, Ohio. He admitted to carrying out the illegal disposal on approximately 24 different nights at the direction of the owner, Benedict W. Lupo.
According to court documents, Guesman’s actions began on December 12, 2012, and continued until January 31, 2013. The waste liquids contained hazardous pollutants such as benzene and toluene, posing significant risks to the environment, wildlife, and human health.
The United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Steven M. Dettelbach, emphasized the importance of clean water in Northern Ohio, stating that they would ‘aggressively investigate and prosecute cases’ involving pollution of the state’s waterways.
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine echoed these sentiments, declaring that actions like Guesman’s were ‘inexcusable’ and that ‘keeping the state’s waters safe for all Ohioans’ was a shared responsibility.
Randall Ashe, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Ohio, highlighted the environmental threat posed by such activities, stating that today’s plea should help protect the Mahoning River and deter others from similar actions.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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