⏱ 2 min read
Charles Santich, the owner of Old Dutch Mustard Co., has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for secretly pumping pollutants into the Souhegan River in New Hampshire. The company, which has a history of environmental non-compliance dating back to the 1980s, pleaded guilty to violating the Clean Water Act. Santich and his company deliberately evaded monitoring by state and federal authorities, lying about their actions and attempting to evade enforcement.
The Souhegan River, one of nineteen rivers designated as an important natural resource by the state of New Hampshire, was subjected to acidic water discharges without a permit. The EPA and New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services had previously taken enforcement actions against the company, requiring continuous monitoring of the stream that flows into the river.
In February 2025, Santich and Old Dutch Mustard Co. pleaded guilty to knowingly discharging a pollutant without a permit. The court sentenced Santich to 18 months in federal prison, one year of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. The company was ordered to pay a $1.5 million fine and establish environmental compliance and ethics programs.
The outcome is a result of years of repeated civil and administrative attempts to encourage Santich and his company to follow the law. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offense and the need to protect the environment from polluters who prioritize profits over compliance with regulations.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: White Collar Crime
- Defendant: New Hampshire
- Location: NH
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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