Idrissa Bagayoko, a business owner from New York, was sentenced to one year of supervised release with stipulations including three months of home confinement and a restitution payment of $5,640. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett after Bagayoko was found guilty of illegally transporting and selling an unregistered pesticide, SNIPER DDVP.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, Kelly O. Hayes, announced the sentencing. The case involved collaboration with various agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, and the Elkton Police Department.
Bagayoko's conviction followed a four-day trial in November 2024, where he was found guilty on charges related to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and the Hazardous Material Transportation Act. The charges stemmed from his actions in September 2021 when he transported and sold SNIPER DDVP, a probable carcinogen, without proper documentation from New York to Maryland.
Evidence presented during the trial showed Bagayoko drove from New York to Maryland, selling two boxes of SNIPER DDVP to an individual. When stopped by police in Elkton, Maryland, he was found with 18 additional boxes of the pesticide. Bagayoko owned and operated Maliba Trading LLC, through which he procured and transported a significant quantity of the substance.
The chemical dichlorvos, found in SNIPER DDVP, is classified as a probable human carcinogen. Bagayoko carried over 330 pounds of dichlorvos without required shipping papers, which are crucial for alerting first responders during emergencies. He sold two boxes of the unregistered pesticide in Takoma Park, Maryland.
"Illegally transporting and selling an illegal pesticide that is a known probable carcinogen puts public health at serious risk," said Hayes. The U.S. Attorney emphasized the commitment to addressing such violations of federal transportation and environmental laws.
EPA Special Agent in Charge Allison Landsman highlighted the risks posed by illegal pesticides, stating, “The defendant illegally distributed, sold, and transported a toxic pesticide across state lines and lied to local police, claiming he was only transporting tea.”
Special Agent in Charge Greg Thompson from the DOT-OIG remarked on the dangers of transporting hazardous materials without proper documentation. "Together with our federal, state, and local partners, we will continue to pursue individuals and companies that circumvent laws designed to safely move goods and products throughout the United States."
The investigation received significant support from the EPA, DOT-OIG, and Elkton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Phillips and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kertisha Dixon and David Lastra were involved in prosecuting the case.
For further information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office and its available resources, visit their website.
