Sanford, FL – A Florida man was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay restitution after being convicted of mail fraud connected to the cleanup of an illegal hazardous waste site in Sanford. Norman F. Smith pled guilty in July 1986 to one count of mail fraud, stemming from a scheme to defraud the Florida State Department of Environmental Regulation (DER).
According to court documents, Smith submitted fraudulent invoices and false laboratory test reports to the DER. These reports claimed chemical tests had been performed on samples taken from Greer’s hazardous waste dumpsite. However, investigators determined the tests were never actually conducted. Adding a layer of complexity, the reports bore the name and letterhead of Environmental Testing Laboratory, Inc. of Chicopee, Massachusetts, a company that had not authorized Smith to use its name or perform any testing on its behalf.
The case unfolded after the DER contracted with Greer – the owner of the illegal dumpsite – to oversee the cleanup. Greer, in turn, subcontracted the analytical work to Smith. Instead of legitimately performing the required tests, Smith allegedly fabricated the data and submitted it to the DER, creating the false impression that the site was being properly remediated. This scheme allowed Greer to appear compliant with environmental regulations while potentially cutting corners on the actual cleanup process.
The indictment, filed on November 21, 1985, initially included three counts of mail fraud (18 U.S.C. 1341). However, Smith ultimately pled guilty to a single count. This companion case is closely linked to the prosecution of Greer, indicating a broader investigation into fraudulent practices within the hazardous waste cleanup industry in Florida during the mid-1980s. The use of a legitimate laboratory’s name without authorization highlights a deliberate attempt to mislead regulators and conceal the lack of proper testing.
Penalties and Restitution
On July 21, 1986, Smith received a sentence of 48 months probation. In addition to probation, he was ordered to pay $5,420 in restitution to cover the costs incurred by the DER as a result of the fraudulent submissions. A $1,000 fine was also levied against Smith. The violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341, mail fraud, carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine, though Smith received a significantly lighter sentence due to the plea agreement.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Norman F. Smith
- Crime: Mail Fraud (18 U.S.C. 1341)
- Location: Sanford, Florida
- Year: 1986
- Victim: Florida State Department of Environmental Regulation (DER)
- Scheme: Submission of fraudulent lab reports for a hazardous waste cleanup.
- False Representation: Reports falsely attributed to Environmental Testing Laboratory, Inc. of Chicopee, MA.
- Sentence: 48 months probation, $5,420 restitution, $1,000 fine.
GrimyTimes will continue to follow developments in environmental crime and related prosecutions.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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