The CEO of a Georgia-based HVAC company has been charged with illegally importing 500 cylinders of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) into the United States from Peru. This marks the second prosecution under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act (AIM Act) in the U.S., and notably, the first involving a corporate executive.
William Randolph Hires, also known as "Randy Hires," aged 57, from Woodstock, Georgia, and Lima, Peru, faces charges for violating the AIM Act by unlawfully importing these potent greenhouse gases. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa in Newark federal court.
HFCs are commonly used refrigerants in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Their global warming potential is significantly higher than that of carbon dioxide. To address this environmental concern, Congress enacted the AIM Act in 2020 to phase down HFC production and consumption by 85 percent over time.
Dan Meyers, Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division, stated: “The defendant’s actions in this case not only violated the AIM Act and created a threat to the environment they also unfairly disadvantaged other law-abiding U.S. businesses.” He added that today's charges emphasize enforcing laws to protect natural resources and ensure fair competition for American businesses.
Ricky J. Patel, ICE HSI Newark Special Agent in Charge, commented: “Hires disregarded our nation’s environmental laws and put our country at risk with shipments containing potent greenhouse gases.” He emphasized that investigations into violations of import and export laws are crucial for national security and public safety.
Court documents reveal that despite being informed multiple times by EPA officials about lacking necessary allowances to import HFCs legally, Hires instructed his employees to proceed with shipping them to the U.S. anyway. In emails exchanged with his employees, he expressed disregard for regulatory compliance concerns raised by EPA officials.
The charge against Hires carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine if convicted.
U.S. Attorney John Giordano credited special agents from various agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency-Criminal Investigation Divisions and Homeland Security Investigations for their roles in leading to today's charge.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica R. Ecker and Bernard J. Cooney along with Senior Trial Counsel Barbara Ward are representing the government in this case alongside Trial Attorney Ronald A. Sarachan from the Department of Justice's Environmental Crimes Section.
It is important to note that all charges are accusations at this stage; William Randolph Hires is presumed innocent until proven guilty.