Newark, NJ – In a significant victory for environmental protection, Avin International Ltd. and Kriti Ruby Special Maritime Enterprises, the owners and operators of the oil tanker Kriti Ruby, pleaded guilty to violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) and obstruction of justice.
The companies, along with their former chief engineer, Konstantinos Atsalis, and second engineer, Sonny Bosito, have been held accountable for their roles in concealing pollution from the vessel and falsifying records during port calls in Jacksonville, Florida, and the Sewaren Terminal of the port of Newark in May and September 2022.
According to court documents, the Kriti Ruby’s crew members discharged oily waste into the sea via the ship’s sewage system, bypassing required pollution prevention equipment. They failed to record these discharges in the vessel’s oil record book and concealed most of the pumps and hoses used to conduct the bypass operations in a sealed void space called a “cofferdam”.
The guilty plea comes after a thorough investigation by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Environmental Crimes Section, which uncovered the extent of the pollution and obstruction of justice.
“Maritime pollution is extremely harmful to the environment, and so difficult to detect, especially when the polluters take elaborate steps to falsify records to conceal their crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Sellinger. “Law protecting our seas exist for a reason, and we will work together with our enforcement partners to ensure they are followed, and violators are punished.”
As part of their plea, Avin International Ltd. and Kriti Ruby Special Maritime Enterprises were sentenced to pay a criminal fine of $3,375,000 and a $1,250,000 community service payment to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
They were also ordered to serve five-year terms of probation during which they will be subject to environmental compliance plans with a monitorship to ensure future compliance.
Atsalis and Bosito were sentenced to time served and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and $0 respectively.
The case highlights the importance of enforcing laws that protect the environment and holds accountable those who prioritize profits over the well-being of our planet.
“Prioritizing profits over the environment by discharging oily waste into the sea and working to cover up that pollution is illegal,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.
“We are committed to enforcing the law and fighting against maritime pollution.”
The U.S. Coast Guard has urged the public to report any suspicions of similar illegal activity onboard vessels directly to the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS).
Rear Admiral Michael E. Platt, Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard’s First District, emphasized the importance of working together to ensure compliance with domestic oil pollution laws and holding violators accountable.
Related Federal Cases
- Italian Oil Tanker Crewmen Admit Discharging Oily Waste · New York
- Michael Blanc, Wire Fraud, Newark NJ, 2024 · New York
- Michael Blanc Sentenced to 42 Months for Wire Fraud, Newark NJ, 2023 · Florida
- Vivek Ramaswamy Rejects VP Offer, Focusing on Presidential Ambition… · Georgia
- Letitia James, Antitrust Lawsuit, New York, 2023 · New York
Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Category: Environmental Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News