A Nevada man has been sentenced for illegally discharging waste into local wastewater systems and lying to investigators. Matthew Thurman, the general manager of Environmental Resources Inc., operating as Easy Rooter Plumbing (ERP), received a two-year prison sentence. He was also fined $680,000 and will serve one year of supervised release for violating pretreatment standards under the Clean Water Act. ERP was sentenced separately to three years of probation and fined $680,000.
For several years, ERP and Thurman discharged grease waste and wastewater from food-service businesses into the wastewater treatment systems of Reno and Sparks, Nevada. Despite warnings from local regulators, the illegal activity continued, prompting an investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). During this investigation, Thurman misled federal agents by blaming competitors for the discharges. These actions compromised the integrity of the wastewater treatment system, posing environmental risks and increasing maintenance costs passed on to consumers.
"This case underscores the importance of holding individuals and corporations accountable when they knowingly harm our environment and attempt to obstruct justice," stated Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. "Violations of the Clean Water Act are serious crimes, and today’s sentencing sends a clear message that such conduct will not be tolerated."
Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann for the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance remarked, "The defendant defrauded clients, exposed Nevada communities to contaminated sewage, and engaged in conduct that required taxpayer dollars to be spent on costly repairs. Today's significant sentencing demonstrates that EPA will continue to bring to justice environmental criminals."
U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada added, "Nevadans depend on our clean water system for everyday life. By knowingly illegally dumping waste into the treatment system, the defendants jeopardized the quality of life of our citizens in violation of the Clean Water Act. We will continue to prosecute these crimes and hold violators responsible."
This case involved collaboration among local, state, and federal agencies to protect America's water systems. The EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division led the investigation with help from Reno's Utility Services Department-Environmental Control and Sparks' Environmental Control Section.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Evans for Minnesota's District—formerly part of Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section—and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Keenan for Nevada prosecuted this case.