Gandaji Chavda, Pollution Crime, CA 2006

San Diego, CA – Gandaji Chavda, along with Moore Printed Circuits, has been implicated in a significant environmental crime involving the illegal discharge of pollutants into the San Diego wastewater system. The case, stemming from violations of the Clean Water Act in 2004 and 2005, highlights a pattern of deliberate tampering and disregard for environmental regulations by the printed circuit board manufacturer.

Moore Printed Circuits, an independent manufacturer specializing in printed circuit boards, operates processes that generate wastewater containing heavy metals like copper, gold, nickel, tin, and solder. According to court documents, the company routinely exceeded permitted levels of these metals in its discharge, violating its pretreatment permit with the City of San Diego Metropolitan Industrial Waste Program. The core of the case revolves around an incident where company personnel actively interfered with an unannounced sampling conducted by the Metropolitan Industrial Waste Program. Specifically, the autosampler – a device used to automatically collect water samples for analysis – was tampered with in a manhole directly in front of the facility, skewing results and concealing the true extent of the pollution.

The initial charges were brought against Sheth, an employee of Moore Printed Circuits, on June 30, 2004. Sheth pled guilty to one count of knowingly violating the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A)) and one count of making false statements (18 U.S.C. 1342). Following Sheth’s plea, Chavda, Patel, and Moore Printed Circuits were charged on September 2, 2004, with a total of fourteen counts of Clean Water Act violations (33 U.S.C. 1311(a), 33 U.S.C. 1317). The investigation revealed a conspiracy to unlawfully discharge pollutants, suggesting a coordinated effort to bypass environmental safeguards.

The legal repercussions extended to all parties involved. On August 5, 2005, Sheth received a 36-month probation sentence, alongside a restitution order of $17,917 to the City of San Diego Metropolitan Industrial Waste Program, and a $1,000 federal fine. Chavda and Patel both entered guilty pleas on November 4, 2005, to one count of conspiracy to unlawfully discharge pollutants. They were each sentenced to 36 months of probation and ordered to pay a $2,000 federal fine. Moore Printed Circuits itself pled guilty to one count and was subjected to a 60-month probation period, along with a substantial federal fine of $42,487.

Table of Contents

Key Facts

Defendant: Gandaji Chavda, Patel, Moore Printed Circuits
Crime: Illegal discharge of pollutants, tampering with environmental monitoring equipment, conspiracy
Location: San Diego, California
Statutes Violated: 33 U.S.C. 1311(a), 33 U.S.C. 1317, 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A), 18 U.S.C. 1342
Penalties: Probation (36-60 months), Restitution ($17,917), Federal Fines ($1,000 – $42,487)
Industry: Printed Circuit Board Manufacturing

This case serves as a stark reminder of the serious consequences associated with environmental crimes. The EPA’s criminal enforcement program continues to target those who prioritize profit over environmental protection, ensuring accountability for actions that endanger public health and the ecosystem. GrimyTimes will continue to follow this case and others like it, providing in-depth coverage of environmental crime and its impact on communities.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

Related Federal Cases