Riverside, CA – Former Starlite Vice President Robert Conn has avoided prison time but will spend four years on probation following a guilty plea related to the illegal discharge of industrial wastewater and tampering with environmental monitoring equipment. The case, investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Criminal Investigation Division, reveals a pattern of negligence and deliberate obstruction that threatened the integrity of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) and Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County sewer systems.
According to court documents, between November 2014 and June 2015, Starlite, a company responsible for treating and disposing of industrial wastewater, repeatedly discharged highly acidic effluent into the IEUA sewer system. This effluent subsequently flowed into the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County’s system. Conn, as a high-ranking official at Starlite, was aware of these illegal discharges perpetrated by employees but failed to take any action to prevent them. The acidic wastewater posed a significant risk to the functionality of the public sewer systems and potentially to the environment.
The EPA’s investigation uncovered that Conn didn’t simply fail to *stop* the illegal activity; he actively participated in covering it up. Evidence showed Conn knowingly allowed employees to tamper with monitoring devices designed to detect and report unauthorized discharges. This manipulation of data concealed the true volume and corrosive nature of the wastewater being released, hindering regulatory oversight and potentially exacerbating damage to the sewer infrastructure. Investigators believe the tampering was a direct attempt to avoid detection and potential fines.
Federal prosecutors argued that Conn’s actions demonstrated a clear disregard for environmental regulations and public safety. While Starlite itself has faced separate legal action, the focus of this case was on holding Conn personally accountable for his role in the criminal conduct. The sentencing, handed down on May 10, 2021, reflects a compromise between the prosecution’s request for incarceration and the defense’s arguments for a lighter penalty, citing Conn’s cooperation with investigators during parts of the inquiry.
Legal Ramifications
Robert Conn was convicted of violating two key provisions of the Clean Water Act. Specifically, he violated 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A), which prohibits knowingly discharging pollutants without a permit, and 33 U.S.C. 1317(d), which addresses tampering with monitoring methods. The penalty for these offenses can include significant fines and imprisonment. In this case, Conn received four years of probation, a considerable sentence for an environmental crime that did not result in direct physical harm, but still demonstrates the seriousness with which federal authorities are treating violations of environmental law.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Robert Conn
- Location: Inland Empire, California
- Dates of Offense: November 2014 – June 2015
- Company Involved: Starlite (industrial wastewater treatment)
- Violated Laws: 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A), 33 U.S.C. 1317(d) – Clean Water Act
- Penalty: 4 years of probation
- Nature of Crime: Illegal discharge of acidic wastewater and tampering with monitoring equipment.
GrimyTimes will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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