DENVER - John Albert Paquette, age 53, of Longmont, Colorado, and his company, East Point, LLC, have been sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Marcia S. Krieger for illegally discharging sewage into the Union Reservoir, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Criminal Investigation Division (CID) announced.
Paquette was sentenced to pay a $10,000 fine. His company, East Point, LLC, was also sentenced to pay a $10,000 fine.
On March 19, 2013, Paquette and East Point were charged by Information. On April 4, 2013 both defendants entered guilty pleas before Chief Judge Krieger. Paquette and East Point were sentenced on July 29, 2013.
According to court documents, on June 20, 2012, Paquette and East Point, LLC, knowingly discharged 1,000 gallons of raw sewage from a hose into the Oligarchy Ditch, which flowed into the Union Reservoir, located in Longmont, Colorado. The sewage came from Paquette’s nearby self-storage company.
“Dumping sewage into a public irrigation ditch that leads to a public water reservoir has serious environmental and health consequences," said U.S. Attorney John Walsh. “The defendant in this case now knows there are criminal penalties for his conduct."
“Illegally discharged sewage can sicken people, fish and wildlife," said Jeffrey Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Colorado. “This case shows that those who try to save a buck by cutting corners will be vigorously prosecuted."
This case was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division.
The defendants were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Suneeta Hazra. #
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
