Martha Hebert, Misprision of a felony, Louisiana 2014

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Martha Hebert, 64, of Kenner, Louisiana, has been sentenced to two years’ probation and a $10,000 fine for her role in a scheme to falsify toxicity testing results for produced water discharged by oil and gas companies operating in the Gulf of Mexico. The sentencing, handed down on April 24, 2014, by U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon, concludes a case highlighting the potential for environmental fraud within the energy sector.

Hebert, co-owner of Laboratory Technology (LT) in Kenner, pleaded guilty in January to one count of misprision of a felony. The investigation, a joint effort by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division (EPA-CID) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), revealed that LT routinely manipulated data from water toxicity tests required by the EPA’s Clean Water Act. These tests are critical to ensuring that companies adhere to permit limits regarding the discharge of produced water – a byproduct of oil and gas production that can be highly toxic if untreated.

According to court documents, between July 2008 and June 2015, LT’s laboratory supervisor, Leonard Johnson, deliberately bypassed established EPA testing protocols. To conceal the violations and maintain the appearance of compliance, Johnson instructed employees – including Hebert – to input fabricated weight values into client reports. These falsified results were then used by oil and gas companies to populate their Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs), submitted to the EPA as proof of adherence to environmental regulations. Hebert, as office manager, was directly responsible for disseminating these inaccurate results to clients.

The crux of Hebert’s offense lies in her *knowing* failure to report the fraudulent activity to authorities. While Johnson executed the manipulation of test data, Hebert was aware of the deception and remained silent, effectively aiding and abetting the scheme. This inaction constituted misprision of a felony under Title 18 U.S. Code Section 4. The EPA relies heavily on the integrity of independent laboratories like LT to verify compliance with environmental standards. The deliberate falsification of data undermines this system and poses a significant risk to both public health and the fragile ecosystem of the Gulf Coast.

As part of her plea agreement, Hebert voluntarily agreed to cease all produced water toxicity testing and permanently closed Laboratory Technology in March 2014. The closure effectively removes LT from the EPA’s approved list of testing facilities. While the sentence is relatively lenient, federal investigators emphasized the importance of holding individuals accountable for environmental crimes and deterring similar fraudulent practices within the industry. The case serves as a stark reminder that falsifying environmental data carries serious legal consequences.

Key Facts

• Defendant: Martha Hebert
• Charge: Misprision of a Felony (Title 18 U.S.C. §4)
• Location: Kenner, Louisiana
• Sentence: 2 years probation, $10,000 fine
• Company Involved: Laboratory Technology (LT)
• Investigation Agencies: EPA-CID, FBI
• Timeline: Fraudulent activity occurred between July 2008 – June 2015

Hebert’s conviction marks the latest in a series of enforcement actions targeting environmental fraud in the oil and gas industry. The EPA continues to prioritize investigations into companies and individuals who deliberately circumvent environmental regulations, ensuring that those who prioritize profit over environmental protection are brought to justice.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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