SEATTLE, WASHINGTON — Two high-ranking executives at Total Reclaim, the Northwest’s largest electronics recycler, have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a wire fraud conspiracy that compromised the environment and public health.
Craig Lorch, 61, of Seattle, and Jeff Zirkle, 55, of Bonney Lake, Washington, were sentenced on [Date] in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 28 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
According to prosecutors, Lorch and Zirkle earned millions of dollars through Total Reclaim by promising customers that they would recycle electronics safely and in accordance with Washington state standards. However, the pair secretly exported over 8.3 million pounds of mercury-containing flat screen monitors to Hong Kong, where they were demolished in an environmentally unsafe manner.
Prosecutors alleged that Lorch and Zirkle made false statements to customers and falsified documents to conceal their scheme. They also stored the monitors at an undisclosed facility while they awaited shipping.
The fraud was discovered in 2014 by the Basel Action Network, a non-governmental organization that studies the export of electronic waste. The scheme spanned seven years and could have had devastating consequences for generations, with mercury poisoning being a serious health risk.
U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones noted during the sentencing hearing that Lorch and Zirkle had multiple opportunities to stop their scheme, but instead chose to prioritize their own profits over public health and the environment.
Total Reclaim was a major participant in the E-Cycle Washington program, which was designed to provide a safe and environmentally responsible way for consumers to recycle hazardous electronic products. The program paid Total Reclaim to recycle electronics according to Washington state standards, but the company secretly exported millions of pounds of waste to Hong Kong, avoiding the costs of safe recycling in the United States.
The scheme would have cost Total Reclaim approximately $2.6 million to properly dispose of the monitors, but instead, Lorch and Zirkle chose to prioritize their own profits, leaving behind a trail of environmental devastation and public health risks.
Craig Lorch and Jeff Zirkle are expected to serve their prison sentences at a facility to be determined. The case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of environmental crimes and the importance of holding corporations and executives accountable for their actions.
Defendant: Craig Lorch and Jeff Zirkle
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
City and State: Seattle, Washington
Exact Date: [Date]
Sentence: 28 months in prison and three years of supervised release
Dollar Amounts: $2.6 million
Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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