Michael Kulikoff, 39, a resident of California City, has been arrested following an indictment accusing him of conspiring to transport hazardous waste unlawfully and placing another person at significant risk. The information was shared by Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith.
As per the court documents, the incident dates back to February 2024 when Kulikoff, then a city council member and owner of a local car wash business, was made aware of a mercury spill inside a customer's SUV. The individual attempted to clean the mercury using a vacuum cleaner but drove the contaminated vehicle to California City, eventually calling 911 after experiencing symptoms of mercury exposure.
Upon arrival, first responders detected mercury levels in the SUV significantly above permissible limits. They secured the area and ceased operations at Kulikoff’s car wash for safety reasons. Despite attempts by Kulikoff to address the contamination himself, he was instructed to stop due to safety concerns.
The following morning, Kulikoff allegedly orchestrated the movement of the contaminated vehicle outside city boundaries to evade local jurisdiction. This was while emergency personnel responded to a false alarm elsewhere. The contaminated SUV was later found in Boron, at the residence of the person directed by Kulikoff to relocate the vehicle. This individual also reported experiencing symptoms related to mercury exposure.
The investigation is led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division alongside the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey A. Spivak and Arelis M. Clemente have been tasked with prosecuting the case.
If Kulikoff is found guilty, he faces substantial penalties including a potential five years of imprisonment and up to $250,000 in fines for the hazardous waste transportation conspiracy, alongside 15 years of imprisonment and daily fines for putting another individual at imminent risk. The current charges are pending and represent accusations only.