Oakland, CA – In a shocking case of environmental crime, Peiwen Zhou, 53, of Palo Alto, and his company AK Scientific, are facing severe charges for allegedly smuggling and transporting hazardous materials in the United States.
According to the indictment, Zhou and AK Scientific conspired to defraud the United States by mislabeling and improperly packaging hazardous chemicals. This resulted in the transportation of hazardous materials in violation of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (HMTA).
The indictment alleges that AK Scientific purchased chemicals from companies in South Korea, Poland, India, and New Zealand, and then sold them to universities, research laboratories, and other entities. However, the company failed to complete required import certifications and properly label packages containing hazardous materials.
Zhou and AK Scientific are charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, one count of smuggling, two counts of violating the TSCA, and seven counts of violating the HMTA. If convicted, Zhou faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, while AK Scientific could face up to 5 years of probation and a $500,000 fine.
The case is being prosecuted by the Special Prosecutions and National Security Unit of the United States Attorney’s office in San Francisco. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Zhou and a representative for AK Scientific are scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, February 21, 2017, at 9:30 am before United States Magistrate Judge Donna Ryu for an initial appearance.
The indictment highlights the severity of environmental crimes and the importance of proper regulations and enforcement. The case serves as a reminder of the consequences of violating laws designed to protect the public and the environment.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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