⏱ 3 min read
San Juan, Puerto Rico. For years, toxic waste tycoons Ramón Plaza-Gregory and Ileana Cortés-González turned a blind eye to the law, pumping filth into the air from their commercial incinerator in Aguadilla. The poison they spewed out was a direct result of a twisted game of cat and mouse with regulators, where they would brazenly flout the rules, then play dumb when caught.
Starting in August 2021, the duo began burning unpermitted materials, using malfunctioning equipment, and exceeding emissions limitations. In July 2024, another EPA inspector documented the excesses, but that only seemed to embolden Plaza-Gregory and Cortés-González. They continued to operate the incinerator on weekends and holidays, racking up even more pollution.
August 2021 to April 2026 was the timeline of this toxic tale of greed and disregard for the law. The incinerator’s emissions permit expired in September 2024, but that didn’t stop the pair from keeping the toxic spigot flowing. Now, they face charges for conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act and illegally emitting pollutants.
The indictment, which also names Mo-Na-Co Biomedical & Environmental Corp. (Monaco) as a defendant, alleges five Clean Air Act violations. The case is a stark reminder that the Justice Department will hold accountable those who put profits over people’s health.
Related Federal Cases
- Michael Decker, EDD Insider Theft, New York 2023 · Washington
- Brian Arnold, Embezzlement, New York 2024 · New York
- Gutman Brothers, Cattle Price Manipulation, Maryland 2024 · Washington
- Maryland Brothers Nabbed in $1.2M Odometer Fraud · Puerto Rico
- John Doe, Money Laundering, New York 2024 · New York
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: White Collar Crime
- Defendant: Puerto Rico
- Location: PR
- Source: DOJ Press Release
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
White Collar CrimeWhite Collar CrimeWhite Collar CrimeWhite Collar Crime