Seattle, WA – Patrick Dooley, 60, owner of Bargains Inc. (also known as AAA Liquidating Services Inc.), was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison and 36 months of supervised release on May 25, 2012, following his conviction on charges of Clean Water Act violations and witness tampering. The case stemmed from a hazardous materials dumping incident in August 2010 at the company’s South Seattle warehouse, which resulted in a teenage employee being exposed to dangerous levels of chlorine gas.
According to court records and trial testimony, Dooley directed a 17-year-old employee to dispose of multiple five-gallon containers of liquid bleach and acidic laundry solution by pouring them down a warehouse toilet. Dooley failed to provide the juvenile with any safety equipment or instructions, despite knowing the potent and reactive nature of the chemicals. The resulting mixture created a significant concentration of chlorine gas, immediately causing physical distress to the young worker.
The employee experienced breathing difficulties, nausea, and other symptoms of chlorine gas exposure and required hospitalization. Following the incident, Dooley allegedly attempted to obstruct the federal investigation by instructing another employee to lie about the juvenile’s employment status and pay arrangement. He repeatedly claimed the teen had acted independently, cleaning the toilet on his own initiative, rather than following direct orders.
Legal Ramifications
Dooley was initially charged with four counts on July 27, 2011, including violations of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A), 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(B), and 33 U.S.C. 1317(d)) and witness tampering (18 U.S.C. 1512). A jury convicted him on all counts after a four-day trial on January 1, 2012. Each Clean Water Act violation carried a potential maximum sentence of three years in prison, while the witness tampering charge carried a maximum of ten years. Chief U.S. District Judge Marsha J. Pechman ultimately imposed the full sentencing guidelines range, citing Dooley’s attempt to manipulate witnesses as a particularly egregious aspect of the crime.
Investigation & Prosecution
The case was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Criminal Investigation Division, with support from Seattle Public Utilities and the Washington State Department of Ecology. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Diggs and Jim Oesterle led the prosecution. Tyler Amon, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division in Seattle, emphasized that Dooley’s prior criminal history – including convictions for arson, grand larceny, and witness tampering – underscored the seriousness of his actions. “To save a buck, defendant Dooley callously exposed a young employee to toxic chemicals,” Amon stated.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Patrick Dooley, 60
- Company: Bargains Inc. / AAA Liquidating Services Inc.
- Location: South Seattle, Washington
- Incident Date: August 2010
- Victim: A 17-year-old employee
- Charges: Three counts of Clean Water Act violations (33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A), 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(B), 33 U.S.C. 1317(d)) and one count of witness tampering (18 U.S.C. 1512)
- Sentence: 33 months imprisonment, 36 months supervised release
Prosecutors argued that Dooley knowingly endangered the teen employee and then compounded the offense by attempting to cover up his actions. The incident highlights the importance of proper hazardous materials handling and the potential consequences of prioritizing profit over worker safety and environmental compliance.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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