Kansas City, MO – Nathan Brinkle was sentenced to five years of probation in 2010 after admitting to illegally dumping hazardous waste generated from federally-funded apartment renovations. The case, investigated jointly by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division (EPA-CID) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Inspector General (HUD OIG), revealed a scheme involving kickbacks and fraudulent misuse of HUD funds.
Between October and November 2005, Brinkle, acting as a supervisor for Brinkle Construction Company, directed a work crew to transport barrels of hazardous waste from St. Louis to a remote hillside location in Jackson County, Missouri, adjacent to a tributary of the Little Blue River. The waste originated from renovations and remodeling projects at apartment complexes owned by AIMCO, which received HUD funding for the work. Brinkle confessed to knowingly causing the illegal dumping, a blatant violation of environmental regulations.
The investigation quickly expanded beyond the initial RCRA violations, uncovering a network of individuals engaged in a kickback scheme. Brinkle provided payments to Christopher Grimsley, a HUD employee, in exchange for securing the renovation contracts. This collusion allowed Brinkle Construction Company to profit from federally-funded projects while simultaneously skirting environmental laws and endangering public health. Grimsley, along with Timothy Rowland, Bernie Belcher, Christopher Childers, Thomas Villirillo, JoDen Napper, and Jamie Grimsley, were all implicated in the fraudulent activity.
While Brinkle avoided a fine, receiving a 60-month probation sentence, several co-conspirators faced both probationary periods and substantial restitution orders. Rowland was sentenced to 60 months probation and ordered to pay $298,765 in restitution. Childers received a 12-month probation sentence and was responsible for $179,570 in payments to AIMCO, CRES Management, and MAXUS. Belcher also received 60 months probation and a $201,223 restitution order. Napper faced a more severe penalty, receiving a year and a day in prison, along with a $355,749 restitution demand. Villirillo and Jamie Grimsley both received 60 months probation and restitution payments totaling $105,560 and $79,167 respectively.
The case highlights the intersection of environmental crime and financial fraud, demonstrating how the pursuit of profit can lead to disregard for both the law and the environment. The EPA and HUD OIG continue to prioritize investigations into the misuse of federal funds and the illegal disposal of hazardous waste, emphasizing the importance of protecting both human health and natural resources. The joint investigation underscores the effectiveness of interagency collaboration in combating complex criminal schemes.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Nathan Brinkle
- Location: Jackson County, Missouri
- Years Active: 2005-2013 (dumping occurred 2005, sentencing spanned 2009-2013)
- Laws Violated: Title 18 U.S. Criminal Code, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) – specifically 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A) and 42 U.S.C. 7413(c)(4), and 18 U.S.C. 1341 (fraud)
- Penalties: Brinkle received 60 months probation. Co-conspirators received probation ranging from 12 months to 60 months and restitution totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.
- Kickback Scheme: Brinkle paid kickbacks to a HUD employee (Christopher Grimsley) to secure renovation contracts.
- Hazardous Waste: Waste was generated from renovations of AIMCO apartment complexes funded by HUD.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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