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Grimy Times Exclusive: Cargo Tank Scandal Rocks Michigan
Garald Bennett, a 72-year-old resident of Cass City, Michigan, has been sentenced to one year and one day in custody for his role in a cargo tank scandal that put the public at risk. Bennett, who managed LPG Service and Leasing LLC, a cargo tank testing facility in Cass City, was found to have repeatedly and falsely certified to customers that his company had inspected and tested the cargo tank portions of tanker trucks used to transport liquid and gaseous bulk cargos.
According to court documents, Bennett supervised the employees of LPG and instructed them to apply labels to cargo tanks that indicated they had been successfully tested, even though the required testing procedures had not been followed. Bennett also directed employees to work on cargo tanks without verifying that they followed required procedures.
The cargo tanks in question were used to transport explosive materials, and the regulations governing their inspection and testing are designed to ensure the safety of the public on the roadways and the people who work on and around the cargo tanks.
Bennett’s actions were described by United States District Judge Thomas Ludington as ‘dangerously ineffective.’ The judge sentenced Bennett to one year and one day in custody, a sentence that reflects the severity of the crime.
The sentencing of Garald Bennett is a clear signal that severe penalties await those who would seek to circumvent hazardous materials transportation laws, according to Thomas J. Ullom, Regional Special Agent-in-Charge of U.S. DOT’s Office of Inspector General. Ullom vowed to continue the office’s vigorous efforts to ensure the integrity of DOT’s HAZMAT safety program.
The case was investigated by agents of OIG-U.S. Department of Transportation and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office in Bay City, Michigan. Bennett’s sentence serves as a warning to those who would put the public at risk through their actions.
Key Facts
- State: Michigan
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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