Stockton, CA – Jeremiah Young was sentenced on June 14, 2021, following a multi-year investigation into illegal wastewater discharges by American Biodiesel d/b/a/Community Fuels. The case, which exposed a deliberate scheme to circumvent environmental regulations, highlights the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in policing industrial pollution.
Between 2014 and 2016, while employed as an assistant operator at the biodiesel plant, Young participated in a fraudulent operation orchestrated with his brother, Christopher Young, who oversaw plant operations from 2009 to 2016. Community Fuels was permitted to discharge wastewater into the local Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) – serving the City of Stockton and the Port of Stockton – provided it met specific pH, methanol concentration, and flow rate parameters. However, rather than adhere to these regulations, the company falsely reported compliance while secretly disposing of unpermitted wastewater.
Investigators discovered that employees, including both Jeremiah and Christopher Young, illegally dispersed wastewater across the facility grounds using landscaping sprinklers. Simultaneously, they engaged in the deliberate tampering of monitoring devices to conceal unauthorized discharges directly into the POTW. This deceptive practice resulted in hundreds of thousands of gallons of untreated wastewater entering the sewer system, potentially harming the environment and overburdening treatment facilities.
The scheme unraveled after authorities began investigating discrepancies in the company’s reported discharge data. Evidence revealed a systematic effort to mislead regulators and avoid the costs associated with proper wastewater disposal. The case underscores the importance of accurate environmental monitoring and the consequences of falsifying data submitted to governmental agencies.
Penalties & Previous Outcomes
Jeremiah Young received a sentence of time served, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to violating the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. §§ 1317(d), 1319(c)(2)(A)). His brother, Christopher Young, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy, Clean Water Act discharge, and tampering violations (18 U.S.C. § 371; 33 U.S.C. §§ 1319(c)(2)(A),(c)(4)).
In July 2019, Community Fuels was sentenced to pay a $400,000 fine and complete a three-year probation period, which included the implementation of a comprehensive environmental compliance plan and granting authorities 24-hour access for unannounced inspections. The company was also ordered to pay $256,206 in restitution, divided between the City of Stockton and the Port of Stockton, to cover damages and costs associated with the illegal discharges. The company pleaded guilty to conspiracy and tampering with monitoring equipment.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Jeremiah Young
- Crime: Clean Water Act Violation
- Location: Stockton, California
- Years Active: 2014-2016
- Statutes Violated: 33 U.S.C. §§ 1317(d), 1319(c)(2)(A)
- Illegally Discharged: Hundreds of thousands of gallons of wastewater
- Co-Defendant: Christopher Young (brother, plant operations director)
- Company Penalty: $400,000 fine, 3 years probation, $256,206 restitution
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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