Dickson, TN – A Tennessee grease hauling company and its executives have been sentenced following a federal investigation into the illegal dumping of waste grease into municipal sewer systems, causing significant damage and disruption to wastewater treatment facilities. The case, brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, highlights the ongoing struggle to protect vital infrastructure from environmental crimes.
Southern Grease Company, formerly based in Dickson, Tennessee, was sentenced on February 19, 2016, to pay a hefty $280,000 criminal fine and forfeit an additional $113,500. The company pleaded guilty in May 2015 to four felony violations related to the unlawful disposal of collected grease from restaurants and other commercial customers across Tennessee and Kentucky. Investigators determined Southern Grease intentionally bypassed proper disposal protocols, opting instead to discharge the waste directly into grease interceptors connected to municipal sewer lines.
The illegal dumping led to substantial blockages and operational failures within the sewer systems of both Dickson and Clarksville, Tennessee. A particularly damaging incident in December 2013 saw a discharge into a Clarksville interceptor obstruct pipes and force a shutdown of a pumping station for cleaning and repairs. The cost of these repairs and the disruption of services formed the basis for restitution orders issued by U.S. District Court Judge Aleta A. Trauger.
Executive Sentencings
Beyond the corporate penalties, two company leaders faced personal consequences for their roles in the scheme. George Butterworth, 75, President and owner of Southern Grease, received a two-month prison sentence and one year of supervised release on February 1, 2016. He pleaded guilty to violating the Clean Water Act, conspiring to violate the Act, and making false statements to EPA agents. Gerald McGee, 51, the company’s Operations Manager, was sentenced to one month of incarceration and two years of supervised release on November 24, 2015, after also being convicted of three felony violations. Both men were also ordered to contribute to the restitution payments.
Legal Ramifications
The investigation, conducted by the EPA Criminal Investigation Division with assistance from the FBI, centered on violations of several key federal statutes. Southern Grease and its executives were charged with offenses under Title 18 U.S. Criminal Code, specifically 18 U.S.C. 371 (Conspiracy to commit offense or defraud the United States) and 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(2) (False Statements), alongside 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A) of the Clean Water Act, which prohibits the discharge of pollutants without a permit. The penalties reflect the seriousness with which federal authorities treat environmental crimes that impact public health and infrastructure.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Southern Grease Company, George Butterworth, Gerald McGee
- Location: Dickson and Clarksville, Tennessee
- Year: 2016
- Violations: Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A)), False Statements (18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(2)), Conspiracy (18 U.S.C. 371)
- Penalties: Southern Grease – $280,000 fine, $113,500 forfeiture, restitution. Butterworth – 2 months prison, 1 year supervised release, restitution. McGee – 1 month prison, 2 years supervised release, restitution.
- Impact: Illegal dumping caused damage to municipal sewer systems and pumping stations, disrupting wastewater treatment.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William F. Abely prosecuted the case, demonstrating the commitment of the Department of Justice to holding polluters accountable and safeguarding the nation’s waterways. This case serves as a stark reminder that environmental regulations are not merely suggestions, but legally enforceable standards with significant consequences for those who choose to disregard them.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
Related Federal Cases
- Dan Olson, Clean Water Act Violation, IN 2012 · Kentucky
- George Mills, Hazardous Waste Violation, AL 1985 · Missouri
- George Butterworth, Environmental Crime, TN 2016 · Kentucky
- Arville O. Thomas, Hazardous Waste Violation, AL 2012 · Missouri
- FDIC Assembles New Banking Watchdogs, Washington D.C., 2023 · Wisconsin
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
White Collar CrimeWhite Collar CrimeWhite Collar CrimeWhite Collar Crime