Fort Wayne, Indiana – Michelle Rousseff-Kemp, the owner and president of an environmental services company, has been sentenced to probation and fined for multiple federal crimes related to the illegal storage and fraudulent documentation of hazardous waste. The case, investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and prosecuted by the Department of Justice, reveals a pattern of deception designed to conceal unpermitted hazardous waste handling and mislead regulators.
Rousseff-Kemp’s company operated as both a hazardous waste transporter and broker, services requiring strict adherence to federal and state regulations. Crucially, the business lacked the necessary permits to legally store hazardous waste, a violation that formed the core of the criminal activity. The EPA’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) mandates a “cradle-to-grave” tracking system for hazardous waste, utilizing a manifest system to document its journey from origin to final disposal.
The scheme began to unravel following a June 2018 pickup of hazardous waste from a client. When the client requested copies of the signed manifests – proof the waste had been delivered to a designated treatment, storage, and disposal facility (TSD) – Rousseff-Kemp allegedly resorted to forgery. After an employee refused to falsify a signature, Rousseff-Kemp herself forged the signature of a representative from the TSD facility onto the manifest, falsely claiming the waste had been delivered on July 15, 2018. Court documents show the waste, in reality, remained unlawfully stored at Rousseff-Kemp’s facility.
The deceit continued into 2019. In March, Rousseff-Kemp arranged for the pickup of additional hazardous waste, again storing it at her company’s location and an undisclosed off-site area. Facing an impending inspection by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) in May 2019, Rousseff-Kemp attempted to conceal the illegal storage. She directed the removal of three trailers filled with drums of waste – including the previously misreported March shipment – to an alternate location just prior to the IDEM inspection. During the inspection, Rousseff-Kemp allegedly falsely claimed the trailers were empty and no longer on the premises.
Federal prosecutors detailed the extent of the violations, citing 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(3) for the false statements made on the hazardous waste manifest and 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A) for the illegal storage of hazardous waste. These violations fall under the umbrella of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), a cornerstone of federal environmental law.
On June 16, 2022, Rousseff-Kemp was sentenced to 24 months of probation and ordered to pay a $5,500 fine. While the sentence may seem lenient, EPA officials emphasize the importance of prosecuting individuals who intentionally circumvent environmental regulations. The case serves as a warning to others operating in the waste management industry that fraudulent practices will not be tolerated and will be met with federal prosecution.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Michelle Rousseff-Kemp
- Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana
- Crimes: Fraudulent hazardous waste documentation and illegal storage.
- Statutes Violated: 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(3), 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A)
- Sentence: 24 months probation, $5,500 fine
- Key Detail: Defendant forged hazardous waste manifest to cover up illegal storage.
GrimyTimes will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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