Leonard Johnson, Falsifying Water Toxicity Tests, Louisiana 2014

KENNER, LA – Leonard Johnson, former laboratory supervisor at Kenner-based Laboratory Technology (LT), was sentenced to 36 months probation and a $250 fine after pleading guilty to falsifying water toxicity tests crucial to oil and gas production compliance in the Gulf of Mexico. The case, investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), reveals a scheme that spanned from approximately July 2008 to June 2015, deliberately undermining the integrity of environmental monitoring.

Laboratory Technology specialized in performing toxicity tests on “produced water” – a byproduct of oil and gas extraction – for companies operating under EPA permits. These permits dictate strict limits on the amount of pollutants discharged into U.S. waterways. LT’s role was critical; their test results, recorded on Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) submitted to the EPA, determined whether companies were adhering to those limitations. Accurate data was therefore essential for both regulatory oversight and legal compliance.

According to court documents, Johnson systematically circumvented EPA protocols for conducting toxicity tests. Instead of following the mandated procedures, he directed LT employees and co-owner Martha Hebert to input fabricated weight data into client reports. This manipulation created the *appearance* of valid testing, allowing oil and gas companies to submit compliant DMRs even when their produced water exceeded permissible pollution levels. Hebert, responsible for disseminating test results to clients, was aware of the fraudulent activity but failed to report it to authorities.

The fraud was particularly egregious because it directly impacted the health of the Gulf Coast ecosystem. By providing inaccurate data, Johnson and LT enabled companies to potentially discharge excessive pollutants, threatening aquatic life and potentially contaminating water sources. The EPA’s protocols are designed to ensure the accuracy of these tests; deviation from them renders the results invalid and inadmissible for regulatory purposes.

Johnson was initially charged on November 26, 2013, with violating 33 U.S.C. 1319 (c)(4), a statute within the Clean Water Act specifically addressing false reporting. He entered a guilty plea on January 23, 2014, and ultimately received a sentence of 36 months probation and a $250 fine on June 11, 2014. While the sentence appears lenient, the case highlights the challenges of prosecuting environmental crimes and the difficulties in assigning appropriate penalties for acts that can have far-reaching ecological consequences.

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Key Facts

Defendant: Leonard Johnson
Location: Kenner, Louisiana
Crime: Falsification of water toxicity test results
Victim: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the public trust
Statute Violated: 33 U.S.C. 1319 (c)(4) – Clean Water Act
Penalty: 36 months probation and $250 fine
Timeline: Fraud occurred from approximately July 2008 to June 2012

The case serves as a cautionary tale for environmental testing laboratories and underscores the importance of rigorous quality control and ethical conduct. The EPA continues to emphasize the need for accurate data in environmental monitoring, and the Department of Justice has signaled its commitment to pursuing individuals and companies who attempt to circumvent environmental regulations.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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