A federal grand jury in San Juan, Puerto Rico, returned an indictment on May 1 charging Ramón Plaza-Gregory, Ileana Cortés-González, and Mo-Na-Co Biomedical & Environmental Corp. (Monaco) with conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act and five counts of illegal emissions from Monaco’s commercial incinerator in Aguadilla.
The case is significant as it addresses allegations of illegal pollution that could impact public health. The U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico supports public safety by handling federal crimes including civil rights violations, according to the official website.
According to the indictment, Plaza-Gregory and Cortés-González allegedly burned unpermitted materials at Monaco’s facility starting in August 2021, used malfunctioning equipment, exceeded emissions limits, and continued operations after their permit expired in September 2024. The defendants are accused of operating the incinerator on weekends and holidays even after being notified by an Environmental Protection Agency inspector about their violations.
“The Clean Air Act is a foundational piece of American environmental law, and when its clear guidelines are disregarded, we are committed to enforcing it,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “Commonsense enforcement actions will help keep our communities healthy.”
U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico said: “Ensuring that all residents of Puerto Rico enjoy a healthy environment free of hazardous waste and other pollutants is a top priority of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Department of Justice, and our federal and local partners. We remain committed to protecting our communities from environmental and health hazards.” Muldrow held this position according to the official website.
Special Agent in Charge Carlos R. Goris for the FBI's San Juan Field Office said: “Environmental crimes are not abstract or victimless crimes — they impact the health, safety, and quality of life of our communities.” EPA Assistant Administrator Jeffrey A. Hall added: “Monaco knowingly violated its Clean Air Act permit first by burning biomedical waste... There is no telling what harmful pollution was emitted from improper and incomplete incineration.”
Both Plaza-Gregory and Cortés-González are scheduled for initial appearances before Magistrate Judge Héctor Ramos at U.S. District Court for Puerto Rico. If convicted on all charges they face up to five years’ imprisonment per count plus fines; Monaco faces up to $500,000 per charge.
The U.S. Attorney for Puerto Rico enforces federal laws through criminal prosecutions as well as civil litigation according to its official website; it serves all parts of Puerto Rico with mechanisms available online for reporting crime or fraud; it also addresses issues such as public corruption or drug trafficking according to further information from its official site.
The investigation was conducted by EPA Criminal Investigation Division with support from FBI Aguadilla Resident Agency under an environmental task force serving both Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands.
Authorities encourage anyone who suspects environmental law violations to report them via epa.gov/tips anonymously if desired.
