Raymond Williams, Hazardous Waste Conspiracy, Missouri 2019

Berger, MO – In a case highlighting the dangers of illegal hazardous waste disposal, Raymond Williams, President and CEO of U.S. Technology Corporation (UST), was sentenced in January 2019 following a multi-year investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Williams and his company were at the center of a scheme to illegally transport and store approximately 9 million pounds of hazardous waste to a facility in Berger, Missouri.

The investigation revealed that UST leased blasting materials used to remove paint – often containing heavy metals like cadmium, chromium, and lead – from military equipment, including tanks and planes. After use, this contaminated blasting material was returned to UST. Instead of properly disposing of the hazardous waste, Williams sought out Daryl and Penny Duncan to facilitate its illegal transfer. In October 2013, Williams contacted the Duncans, leading to the creation of Missouri Green Materials (MGM), a company established solely for the purpose of receiving the waste shipped from a UST facility in Yazoo City, Mississippi.

Between October and December 2013, UST, under the direction of Williams, transported the hazardous materials to MGM’s Berger, Missouri location, bypassing both state and federal regulations designed to protect public health and the environment. The operation knowingly placed individuals in imminent danger through the release of hazardous waste into the air, a key element of the prosecution’s case against the Duncans.

The case unfolded with a series of guilty pleas and subsequent sentencing. Daryl and Penny Duncan, along with MGM, admitted to their roles in the hazardous waste scheme. On October 16, 2018, both Duncans were sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to pay $1.5 million in restitution, shared jointly with other defendants. Following closely on January 11, 2019, Williams and UST received a 60-month probation sentence and a similar $1.5 million restitution order. Missouri Green Materials was later sentenced on February 22, 2019, to two years of probation and a $1.5 million fine, also shared with the other parties involved.

The prosecution hinged on violations of the Clean Air Act, specifically 42 U.S.C. 7413(c)(4), which addresses the unlawful transportation and disposal of hazardous waste. This case underscores the EPA’s commitment to pursuing criminal enforcement actions against those who prioritize profit over environmental and public safety. The consecutive nature of Williams’ sentence to a prior case (5:17-CR-00029-001) suggests a pattern of potentially unlawful behavior.

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Key Facts

Defendant: Raymond Williams, U.S. Technology Corporation (UST), Daryl Duncan, Penny Duncan, Missouri Green Materials (MGM)
Location: Berger, Missouri; Yazoo City, Mississippi; Canton, Ohio
Hazardous Waste: Approximately 9 million pounds of heavy metal-contaminated blasting material
Laws Violated: Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7413(c)(4)) – unlawful transport/disposal of hazardous waste
Penalties: Up to 60 months probation and $1.5 million restitution (Williams & UST); 5 years probation & $1.5 million restitution (Duncans); 2 years probation & $1.5 million fine (MGM)
Investigation Agencies: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Missouri Department of Natural Resources

GrimyTimes will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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