William L. Huntress, Wetlands Filling, New York 2011

[Grimy Times Exclusive]

A massive environmental crime has been unearthed in the heart of New York, leaving the residents of Amherst reeling in shock. William L. Huntress, a prominent Buffalo developer, along with his companies, Acquest Transit LLC and Acquest Development LLC, have been indicted on federal charges of conspiring to illegally fill over 90 acres of wetlands.

According to the indictment, the defendants purchased the 96-acre parcel with the intention of commercially developing the site, despite being aware of the presence of the wetlands. After the purchase, they proceeded to fill a portion of these wetlands by installing a roadway and a ‘fill pad’ on the site.

The indictment further alleges that Huntress and his co-conspirators concealed the illegal wetland filling by concealing documents from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), making false statements to federal law enforcement officers, and disregarding administrative and judicial orders enjoining them from further earth-moving activities on the site.

The indictment charges the defendants with conspiracy to defraud the United States and to violate the Clean Water Act; substantive Clean Water Act counts; obstruction of justice; false statements; concealment of material facts; and contempt of court. The Clean Water Act counts each carry a maximum possible term of three years in prison and a potential $50,000 fine for each day the violations occurred.

The case was investigated by Special Agents from the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango of the Western District of New York and Todd W. Gleason of the Environmental Crimes Section of the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Attorney General’s office.

An indictment is a mere accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless convicted in a court of law. The case is set to make its initial appearances in federal court in the Western District of New York on November 10, 2011.

Related Federal Cases