Raul Antonio Gonzalez-Lopez, Hazardous Waste Disposal, California 2014

San Diego, CA – Raul Antonio Gonzalez-Lopez, 55, of Tijuana, Mexico, was sentenced to seven months in federal prison on September 2, 2014, for the illegal disposal of a highly dangerous mixture of acids and potassium cyanide at the Miramar Landfill in San Diego County. The case, investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), highlights the severe risks associated with improper hazardous waste handling and the government’s commitment to prosecuting such offenses.

According to court documents, Gonzalez-Lopez knowingly transported trash containing the deadly chemicals from We Lend More, a National City business, on March 12, 2011. He then illegally dumped the waste at the Miramar Landfill, a facility not equipped to handle such hazardous materials. The trash included nitric acid and potassium cyanide, substances that, when combined, produce hydrogen cyanide gas – a lethal poison. Investigators determined the chemicals were packaged together in a manner that virtually guaranteed a dangerous reaction.

Deadly Combination

EPA Chief Scientist Joe Lowry conducted a dispersion model based on the evidence, revealing a potentially catastrophic “threat area” extending approximately 71 yards from the point of chemical combination. The model indicated that anyone within a 30-yard radius would have faced immediate fatality. Fortunately, landfill operators, through their routine compacting of waste, were likely the ones who triggered the combination, but their vigilance and the relatively quick reaction prevented a wider disaster. The original owner of We Lend More, Marc Vogel, was previously convicted in 2011 of aiding and abetting the illegal disposal.

Cross-Border Pursuit

Gonzalez-Lopez evaded authorities for over three years, finally being arrested in Mexico on January 14, 2014, and subsequently extradited to the United States to face charges. The protracted pursuit underscores the challenges of prosecuting environmental crimes that cross international borders. The arrest and conviction demonstrate a collaborative effort between U.S. and Mexican law enforcement agencies.

Government Response

U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy emphasized the government’s unwavering commitment to enforcing environmental regulations. “We will continue to work with our federal law enforcement partners to take firm and decisive action when slipshod, cavalier practices pose a threat to human health,” she stated. Jay M. Green, Special Agent-in-Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in California, added, “Hazardous wastes pose a great risk to human health and the environment when intentionally mismanaged… Today’s sentence demonstrates the government’s commitment to hold accountable those individuals who would attempt to profit by illegally dumping hazardous wastes.”

Legal Ramifications

Gonzalez-Lopez pleaded guilty to violating 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A), pertaining to the unlawful disposal of hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). This violation carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The seven-month sentence handed down by Judge Michael M. Anello reflects the seriousness of the offense and serves as a deterrent to others considering similar illegal actions.

Key Facts

• Defendant: Raul Antonio Gonzalez-Lopez
• Crime: Illegal disposal of hazardous waste (nitric acid & potassium cyanide)
• Location: Miramar Landfill, San Diego County, California
• Date of Disposal: March 12, 2011
• Sentence: 7 months imprisonment
• Statute Violated: 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A) – Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
• Potential Hazard: Combination of chemicals could have released deadly hydrogen cyanide gas, lethal within 30 yards.
• Co-Defendant: Marc Vogel (owner of We Lend More) previously convicted.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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