WEST CHESTER, OH – Raymond Albert Skinner was sentenced in February 2010 after pleading guilty to illegally storing hazardous waste and multiple drug offenses related to the operation of an unpermitted landfill on his West Chester, Ohio property, commonly known as the Skinner Landfill. The site, a former Superfund location placed on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1982, became the dumping ground for 78 cubic yards of cathode ray tube (CRT) glass, triggering a state and federal investigation.
Ohio EPA inspectors discovered the improperly discarded CRT glass in December 2007. The investigation revealed Skinner had entered into an agreement with Tri-E Technologies, LLC of Fairfield, Ohio, to accept the electronic waste. However, the CRT glass, contained within deteriorating containers, presented a significant environmental and public health hazard. Testing determined lead concentrations within the waste were a staggering 80 times the regulatory limit for a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste, as defined in 40 C.F.R. 261.24.
The discovery prompted a “time-critical removal action” by the EPA’s Superfund Division, indicating the immediate threat posed by the improperly disposed materials. CRT glass contains significant amounts of lead, a neurotoxin, and the deteriorating containers risked leaching these toxins into the surrounding environment, potentially contaminating soil and groundwater. The illegal dumping occurred despite the Skinner Landfill lacking any permit to operate as a waste disposal facility.
Skinner was initially indicted in May 2009 on charges of illegal storage of hazardous waste, illegal disposal of hazardous waste, and criminal endangering, all violations of Ohio environmental regulations. A parallel investigation by the West Chester Police Department uncovered additional criminal activity. Skinner was also charged with two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs and one count of permitting drug abuse. During plea negotiations, Skinner admitted guilt to the illegal storage of hazardous waste and the three drug offenses. The two remaining environmental charges – illegal disposal and criminal endangering – were dropped as part of the agreement.
Penalties & Restitution
Butler County Common Pleas Court sentenced Skinner to 60 months of probation and 60 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay a $25,000 fine to the State of Ohio, as well as $9,270 in restitution, split between the Ohio EPA and the West Chester Police Department, to cover costs associated with the cleanup and investigation. The case highlights the ongoing challenges of illegal dumping, particularly of hazardous electronic waste, and the potential for environmental contamination at unregulated sites.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Raymond Albert Skinner
- Location: West Chester, Ohio
- Year: 2010
- Violations: Illegal storage of hazardous waste (Ohio State Regulations), Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs, Permitting Drug Abuse
- Hazardous Waste: 78 cubic yards of CRT glass containing lead at 80x the RCRA limit
- Penalty: 60 months probation, 60 hours community service, $25,000 fine, $9,270 restitution
- Superfund Site: Skinner Landfill was placed on the NPL in 1982.
GrimyTimes will continue to follow environmental crime cases and report on efforts to protect communities from hazardous waste.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
Related Federal Cases
- Raymond C. Odell, Social Security Administration Defrauding, Bellev… · Arizona
- Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Dumping Toxic Drilling Waste, Youngstown … · Washington
- John J. Mayer Sentenced to 1 Year for Asbestos Dumping, Toledo OH, … · Alabama
- Teresina Montorsi, Deliberate Dumping of Liquid Cyanide, OH, 2023 · Kentucky
- Christos Karasarides Jr, Tax Fraud and Illegal Gambling, Ohio 2024 · Florida
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
White Collar CrimeWhite Collar CrimeWhite Collar CrimeWhite Collar Crime