Darin Lewis, a 46-year-old man from Crestview, Florida, admitted in federal court to conspiring to commit wire fraud by falsifying critical water safety tests in Dale County, Alabama. The guilty plea, entered Thursday, February 16, 2017, in Montgomery, exposes a dangerous cover-up that endangered public health and violated federal environmental safeguards.
Lewis, a site supervisor for Roberson Excavation, Inc., a Florida-based contractor, was directly involved in a scheme to fake bacterial testing on newly installed water lines in the Marley Mill area. The Dale County Water Authority had hired the company to complete the project, but by early 2015, Roberson Excavation was already three months behind schedule, incurring $500 in daily penalties. That’s when the pressure turned criminal.
Court documents reveal that Billy Ray Roberson, owner and president of Roberson Excavation, ordered Lewis to bypass mandatory testing protocols before the water lines could go live. This included fabricating results for tests meant to detect harmful bacteria. The falsified reports were submitted electronically—triggering the wire fraud charge—so the company could claim the project was complete and stop the financial bleeding.
Investigators say the deception wasn’t just about money—it put residents at serious risk. Untested water lines could have carried pathogens like E. coli or coliform bacteria directly into homes. The Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigations Division called the actions “a deliberate disregard for public safety,” stressing that clean water isn’t a paperwork loophole—it’s a lifeline.
Lewis now faces up to 5 years in federal prison at a sentencing hearing to be scheduled in the coming months. His cooperation may influence the court’s decision, but prosecutors are pushing for accountability in a case that struck at the heart of community trust. Meanwhile, Billy Ray Roberson and Roberson Excavation, Inc. are set to stand trial on June 5, 2017, in Dothan, Alabama, facing the same fraud charges.
The case was investigated by the EPA’s Criminal Investigations Division and the Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross is leading the prosecution. With infrastructure projects under growing scrutiny nationwide, this case serves as a grim reminder: cutting corners on public works can cost more than money—it can cost lives.
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Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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