Marman USA, Pesticide Fraud, FL 1996

Miami, FL – A Florida-based company and its Vice President were convicted in 1996 for a scheme to fraudulently export pesticides to Central and South America. Marman USA, Inc. and Robert Renes illegally affixed forged Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seals to pesticide registration certificates, allowing the company to bypass import regulations in 16 foreign countries.

The investigation revealed that numerous nations require EPA certification – specifically the gold EPA seal – before allowing pesticide products to be imported. Marman USA deliberately circumvented this requirement by creating counterfeit EPA seals and applying them to false certificates. This allowed the company to sell its products in countries where they would otherwise have been prohibited, gaining an unfair economic advantage.

Federal prosecutors charged both Marman USA, Inc. and Robert Renes with six counts of violating 18 U.S.C. § 506, which specifically addresses the falsification of government seals. The statute makes it a crime to “falsely makes, forges, counterfeits, mutilates or alters the seal of any department or agency of the United States; or knowingly uses…” such a forged seal. The scheme involved actively deceiving foreign governments and potentially endangering agricultural practices in those nations.

On April 4th, 1996, both the company and Renes entered guilty pleas on all six counts. The swift plea suggests a calculated decision to minimize legal costs and potential further scrutiny. The case highlights the vulnerability of international trade regulations to fraudulent practices and the EPA’s commitment to protecting both domestic and international markets from unsafe or illegally registered pesticides.

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Sentencing & Penalties

On July 10th, 1996, the court handed down its sentences. Marman USA, Inc. was sentenced to a 24-month probationary period and ordered to pay a substantial fine of $350,000. Robert Renes, as the Vice President directly involved in the scheme, received a 36-month probationary sentence and was personally fined $150,000. These penalties underscore the seriousness with which federal authorities treat violations of regulations designed to ensure product safety and international trade integrity.

Key Facts

Defendant: Marman USA, Inc. & Robert Renes
Location: Florida
Year: 1996
Crime: Forgery of EPA seals on pesticide registration certificates.
Statute Violated: 18 U.S.C. § 506
Countries Affected: 16 Central and South American nations
Company Penalty: 24 months probation, $350,000 fine
Individual Penalty: 36 months probation, $150,000 fine

GrimyTimes will continue to follow cases of corporate and individual fraud, bringing to light the illicit activities that undermine public trust and safety.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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