Raleigh, NC – Harvey Bryant Pridgen, 58, of Nashville, North Carolina, was sentenced to six months in federal prison followed by a year of supervised release, including six months of home confinement with electronic monitoring, for illegally dumping petroleum-contaminated soil into a protected wetland area in Jones County. The sentencing, handed down on April 10, 2013, by Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever III, also included a $300,000 federal fine and a $11,367.77 payment to the North Carolina Ecological System Enhancement Program – Wetlands Restoration Fund.
The case originated in May 2010, when investigators began looking into reports of illegal dumping on farmland. The investigation quickly revealed a complex chain of contracting stemming from an environmental remediation project at Marine Corps Air Station New River. The Marine Corps had contracted with Osage of Virginia Inc. to oversee the clean-up, and Osage, in turn, subcontracted P&F Services, Inc., owned by Pridgen, to haul away the contaminated soil for proper disposal. Instead of adhering to environmental regulations, Pridgen allegedly directed the dumping of the soil onto private farmland.
According to court documents, between April and May 2010, approximately 50-60 truckloads of the contaminated soil were delivered to the farmland at the request of the property manager, who intended to use the material to fill a low-lying area. Rather than being properly disposed of, the soil was pushed into a designated protected wetlands area using bulldozers, causing significant environmental damage. A subsequent site inspection in mid-May 2010 confirmed the presence of petroleum contamination.
Legal Ramifications
Pridgen was charged with violating the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(1)(A)), specifically for the unauthorized filling of wetlands. He also faced charges under 18 U.S.C. 1001, related to making false statements during the investigation. He ultimately pled guilty to the charge of unauthorized fill of wetlands on September 6, 2012. The hefty fine and restitution order reflect the severity of the environmental damage and the deliberate nature of the offense.
Multi-Agency Investigation
The investigation into this environmental crime was a collaborative effort involving multiple federal and state agencies. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the United States Environmental Protection Agency – Criminal Investigation Division, the United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the United States Army Corps of Engineers all contributed to building the case against Pridgen. Assistant United States Attorney Banumathi Rangarajan led the prosecution.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Harvey Bryant Pridgen
- Location: Jones County, North Carolina
- Crime: Illegal dumping of petroleum-contaminated soil in a protected wetland.
- Statutes Violated: Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(1)(A)), 18 U.S.C. 1001
- Sentence: 6 months imprisonment, 1 year supervised release (6 months home confinement), $300,000 fine, $11,367.77 restitution
- Source of Contamination: Environmental cleanup project at Marine Corps Air Station New River.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to environmental regulations and the consequences of prioritizing profit over the health of sensitive ecosystems. Authorities continue to emphasize that environmental crimes will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted to protect North Carolina’s natural resources.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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- Harvey Bryant Pridgen, Environmental Crime, NC 2013 · New York
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