Thea Preston, Pollution, MO 2002

St. Louis, MO – A Missouri restaurant owner and several associates faced federal charges and penalties in 2001 and 2002 for illegally dumping raw sewage into the Mississippi River, according to court documents obtained by GrimyTimes. The scheme, orchestrated while operating “The Tavern on the Rand,” a restaurant housed on a permanently moored tow vessel, prioritized cost-cutting over environmental responsibility, resulting in significant fines and jail time for those involved.

From 1995 to early 1999, Thea Preston, along with partners, operated the unique establishment on the Frank C. Rand, located on the Missouri side of the Mississippi. Instead of paying for proper sewage disposal services, investigators discovered the defendants repeatedly discharged untreated waste directly into the river and connecting drainage ditches. The brazen disregard for the Clean Water Act was uncovered through an EPA investigation, leading to a multi-count indictment in March 2001.

The charges included conspiracy to violate federal law (18 U.S.C. 371) and several counts of violating the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1311(a) for illegal discharge of pollutants and 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A) for knowingly violating the Act). The indictment specifically alleged the defendants knowingly circumvented regulations to avoid the financial burden of legal waste management.

Preston initially faced the charges and ultimately pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Clean Water Act in September 2001. Her sentence, handed down in November 2001, included 24 months of probation and a $100 special assessment fee – a comparatively lenient penalty when contrasted with her co-defendants. However, others involved faced much harsher repercussions.

Robert Templeton and Venetian Harbor, the business entity owning the vessel, both pleaded guilty to conspiracy and Clean Water Act violations. Templeton received a 25-month prison sentence, a $10,000 federal fine, and a $100 special assessment. Venetian Harbor was sentenced to five years probation, a hefty $90,000 fine, and a $500 assessment. Further convictions followed for James Bonbrake and George Spielman, who each faced multiple counts of violating the Clean Water Act and conspiracy. Bonbrake received a 40-month prison sentence, $20,000 fine, and $500 assessment, while Spielman was sentenced to 39 months incarceration, a $90,000 fine, and $500 assessment.

The case serves as a stark reminder of the federal government’s commitment to enforcing environmental regulations and holding individuals and businesses accountable for polluting waterways. The Mississippi River, a vital resource for millions, remains vulnerable to such illegal activity, and the EPA continues to prioritize investigations into potential violations. GrimyTimes will continue to follow environmental crime cases and report on those who put profit over the health of our communities and ecosystems.

Table of Contents

Key Facts

Defendant: Thea Preston, Robert Templeton, Venetian Harbor, James Bonbrake, George Spielman
Location: Mississippi River, Missouri
Years Active: 1995 – 1999 (discharges); 2001-2002 (legal proceedings)
Statutes Violated: 18 U.S.C. 371 (Conspiracy), 33 U.S.C. 1311(a) (Illegal Discharge of Pollutants), 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A) (Knowingly Violating Clean Water Act)
Penalties: Sentences ranged from 24 months probation to 40 months incarceration, with fines totaling over $250,000 and special assessment fees.
Business: The Tavern on the Rand – restaurant/tavern on a converted tow vessel.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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