Robert J. Bullock, Tampering with a Water System, Massachusetts 2022

A shocking case of tampering with a water system has come to light in Massachusetts. Robert J. Bullock, Sr., a 60-year-old former Water Department employee from Brockton, has pleaded guilty to tampering with the Stoughton drinking water supply.

According to the authorities, Bullock turned off the pump that introduces chlorine into drinking water on the evening of November 29, 2022. As a result, insufficiently disinfected water was introduced into the drinking water system.

The charge of tampering with a water system carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Boston Division; and Kathryn Rivera, Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Environmental Protection Agency, Criminal Investigation Division in Boston made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Stoughton and Brockton Police Departments.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Tolkoff of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.

Bullock's sentencing is scheduled for June 25, 2025. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of ensuring the integrity of public systems and the consequences of tampering with them.

For more information, contact the U.S. Attorney's Office at [phone number] or visit their website at [website URL].

In related news, residents of Stoughton are advised to check their water quality and seek assistance if they have any concerns.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/former-stoughton-water-department-employee-pleads-guilty-tampering-drinking-water