BATON ROUGE, LA – Roger Dies, 55, of Zachary, Louisiana, was sentenced to probation and hefty financial penalties after pleading guilty to violating federal environmental laws and obstructing a grand jury investigation, the Department of Justice announced. The case, stemming from an investigation into widespread compliance issues with environmental regulations, highlights a pattern of deceit and financial maneuvering by Dies, owner and operator of Baton Rouge Tank Wash (BRTW).
According to court documents, Dies knowingly failed to report third-party wastewater discharges from BRTW between March 2009 and September 2012, a direct violation of the Clean Water Act. BRTW, which specialized in cleaning the interiors of tanks used to transport chemical and food-grade liquids, was permitted to discharge wastewater into the municipal sewer system – but only within specific, regulated limits. By failing to report the true volume of wastewater, Dies avoided paying over $24,000 in sewer user fees, effectively boosting profits at the expense of public infrastructure and environmental safety.
The deception didn’t stop at unreported discharges. Investigators discovered that Dies routinely misled authorities regarding the nature of BRTW’s operations, concealing the fact that the business was accepting significant quantities of wastewater from external sources. As a federal grand jury began to probe the matter in late 2012, Dies allegedly doubled down on his efforts to obstruct justice. He provided the grand jury with falsified documents designed to disguise the true extent of BRTW’s third-party wastewater business. Further compounding the issue, in February 2013, Dies provided false testimony, claiming to have produced all relevant documents when, in fact, numerous responsive records were withheld.
“This office is committed to investigating and prosecuting criminal violations of the federal environmental laws,” stated U.S. Attorney Walt Green. “Such laws are in place to protect health and promote safety across our region, and compliance with the laws should not be disregarded as an administrative burden or tossed aside in an effort to maximize profit.” Ivan Vikin, Special Agent-in-Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Louisiana, added that the case “demonstrates that those who knowingly put public health at risk can expect to face the consequences in court.”
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality echoed this sentiment, with Secretary Peggy Hatch stating, “We take issue with any individual or business who side-steps compliance… in the name of profit.” The investigation was a collaborative effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Criminal Investigation Division of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Criminal Investigation Division of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Roger Dies
- Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Statutes Violated:
- Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A) – Failure to report wastewater discharges.
- 18 U.S.C. 1503 – Obstruction of a grand jury investigation.
- Penalties: 48 months of probation, $6,000 fine, and $475,700 in restitution.
- Timeline: Charges filed December 12, 2013; Guilty plea September 2, 2014; Sentencing April 29, 2015.
- Business: Baton Rouge Tank Wash (BRTW)
The case serves as a stark reminder that environmental regulations are not merely suggestions, but legally binding requirements. The significant restitution order underscores the financial damage caused by Dies’s actions, and the probation sentence reflects the seriousness with which federal authorities view violations of environmental law and attempts to impede justice.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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