Glenn Cooper, Clean Water Fraud, LA 2000

St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana – A former plant manager and five employees of a public wastewater treatment facility were convicted in 2000 for a deliberate scheme to defraud federal environmental regulators, according to court records unsealed by GrimyTimes. Glenn Cooper, the plant manager, orchestrated a plan to manipulate water sample results, falsely indicating compliance with Clean Water Act standards.

The elaborate deception involved substituting samples taken *outside* the treatment process for those collected *within* the plant’s system. These manipulated samples were then submitted to environmental agencies, effectively masking the facility’s failure to properly treat public wastewater. This allowed the plant to avoid necessary upgrades and potential penalties for non-compliance.

Federal prosecutors alleged that Cooper directly instructed the plant operators – Tamor, Bruno, Plaia, Melerine, and Coffey – on how to perform the sample switch. The scheme was designed to circumvent the rigorous oversight mandated by the Clean Water Act, and to present a false picture of environmental responsibility. The defendants knowingly submitted fraudulent data, intending to mislead both the Environmental Protection Agency and the public.

All six individuals ultimately pled guilty to charges related to the Clean Water Act violations. On December 29, 1999, Cooper was initially charged with one count of violating 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(4) – making false statements – while the other five employees were charged with 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(1), a negligent violation of the Act. The prosecution highlighted the pre-meditated nature of the fraud and the potential for significant environmental harm had the scheme gone undetected.

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Sentencing & Penalties

The sentencing reflected varying degrees of culpability. Cooper, as the mastermind of the operation, received the harshest penalty: 60 months of probation and a $10,000 federal fine. Tamor, Bruno, Plaia, and Melerine each received 36 months of probation and were ordered to perform 50 hours of community service. Coffey, facing a slightly elevated role in the manipulation, was sentenced to 36 months probation and 150 hours of community service. No fines were levied against the four operators.

Key Facts

Defendant: Glenn Cooper and five St. Bernard Parish wastewater treatment plant employees
Crime: Clean Water Act fraud and false reporting
Location: St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana
Year: 2000
Statutes Violated: 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(1) & 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(4)
Penalties: Probation (36-60 months), fines up to $10,000, and community service

This case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of environmental fraud and the importance of rigorous oversight in protecting public health and the environment. GrimyTimes will continue to follow up on environmental crime cases and report on those who attempt to profit by polluting our communities.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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