Terry Miller, Water Pollution, Mississippi 2001

FOREST, MS – A rendering plant operator in Forest, Mississippi, received federal sentencing in 2001 after years of illegally discharging dangerously high levels of pollutants into a creek that feeds Jackson’s drinking water supply. The case, stemming from violations of the Clean Water Act, exposed a pattern of negligence and deliberate falsification of reports by Central Industries and its associates.

The investigation, launched after a 1995 incident where wastewater from the plant contained ammonia nitrogen levels 18 times the permitted limit, revealed a systemic disregard for environmental regulations. Central Industries, which processed waste from chicken slaughterhouses into protein and fat, generated roughly 500,000 gallons of wastewater daily. This effluent, when improperly treated, posed a significant threat to both aquatic life in Shockaloo Creek – a tributary of the Pearl River – and the health of residents relying on the Pearl River for drinking water. High ammonia concentrations can cause severe illness and even organ damage in humans.

The initial charges in September 1999 focused on Terry Miller, who ultimately pleaded guilty to violating the Clean Water Act. However, the scope of the investigation quickly broadened, implicating multiple individuals and companies connected to Central Industries. A superseding indictment revealed a conspiracy involving B.C. Rodgers, Choctwa Maid, Lady Forest Farms, Marshal Durban Farms, and McCarty Farms, all accused of conspiring to violate the Clean Water Act alongside Central Industries.

The legal proceedings saw a cascade of guilty pleas and sentencing. Etheridge pleaded guilty to negligent violations of the CWA, while McCarty admitted to 56 counts. Central Industries itself confessed to making false statements, engaging in conspiracy, and 25 counts of negligent violations. The company faced a hefty penalty: 60 months probation, $10,400 in special assessment fees, $1 million in restitution to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, and a staggering $13 million federal fine. The other implicated farms had all charges dismissed after Central Industries’ plea deal.

Individual penalties varied. Etheridge received four months of home confinement, 36 months of probation, 200 hours of community service, a $50 special assessment, and a $300,000 federal fine. McCarty was sentenced to one month of incarceration, 24 months probation, 100 hours of community service, a $25 special assessment, and a $50,000 federal fine. Miller received 36 months probation, a $50 special assessment, 100 hours of community service, and a $25,000 federal fine. Rogers also pleaded guilty to one CWA violation.

Key Facts

• Defendant: Terry Miller (and multiple co-defendants/companies)
• Location: Forest, Mississippi
• Year: 2001 (charges filed 1999-2000)
• Crime: Violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA) through illegal discharge of pollutants.
• Statutes Violated: 18 U.S.C. 1001 (False Statements), 33 U.S.C. 1311(a) (Clean Water Act), 18 U.S.C. 371 (Conspiracy), 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(1)(A) (Negligent Violation of CWA).
• Penalties: Fines totaling millions of dollars, probation, home confinement, incarceration, restitution, and community service.
• Impact: Contaminated Shockaloo Creek, a tributary of the Pearl River, jeopardizing the drinking water supply for the City of Jackson and harming aquatic life.

The case serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of environmental crimes and the importance of strict adherence to regulations designed to protect public health and the environment. The substantial fines and individual penalties levied against those involved underscore the federal government’s commitment to enforcing the Clean Water Act and holding polluters accountable.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS

White Collar Crime

Liana Rios, Counterfeit Passport Operation, Texarkana TX 2023

Apr 7, 2026

White Collar Crime

Mavious Redmond, Social Security Benefit Theft, MN 2023

Aug 21, 2025

White Collar Crime

Iva Whitmire, Tax Evasion, Pennsylvania 2023

Aug 19, 2021

White Collar Crime

Toledo Gas Station Owner, Tax Evasion, Ohio 2023

Mar 12, 2015