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10/22/2025
WT Staff
 Knowledge of an environmental crime? Give us a call at 877-52-WATER (877-529-2837), or email info@wtny.us
Oct 22, 2025 453 pm EDT
CrimeBox
Historic Conviction Fiscal Year 2015; Case ID# CR_2655 (Connecticut)
Pharmaceutical manufacturer convicted for illegal discharges to Thames River
The defendant in this case was Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for a pharmaceutical company based in New London, Connecticut. The company manufactures pharmaceutical products, including skin creams and medicated ointments. At the time the defendant took control of operations in 2003, the long term employees informed the new CEO of illegal discharges from the facility to the New London publicly owned treatment works (POTW), in violation of the Clean Water Act and state environmental laws.
The defendant was advised by four environmental consulting firms to invest in a pre-treatment system for the produced wastewater, and to obtain a discharge permit from the state. With the appropriate pre-treatment process and the commensurate testing and monitoring regimen in force, the factory could ensure that no toxic materials would enter the municipal sanitary sewer system, no harmful chemicals would be released to contaminate the environment and public drinking water supplies downstream.
Federal District Court in Connecticut was presented with information showing that for a period of twenty-five years, 1986 to July 2011, the pharmaceutical manufacturing facility let go millions of gallons of untreated industrial wastewater to the New London POTW. Contaminated wastewater reached the Thames River in southeastern Connecticut during this entire time period. The defendant became responsible in early 2003, at which time, he was informed of the illegal discharges, yet no changes were made. The CEO failed to equip the facility with the appropriate wastewater pretreatment system, did not obtain a permit and failed to implement testing of the discharges. Further, for the seven years of his leadership and responsibility, the defendant failed to report the discharges monthly to the state authorities.
In April 2011, the state department responsible for water quality made an unannounced visit to the New London factory. The inspector posted a Notice of Violation and cited the company for discharging manufacturing and laboratory wastewater without a permit. At last, something positive was happening with this long term violator. By the end of May 2011, the defendant submitted a permit application to CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). Some time in July 2011, the company finally installed a wastewater pretreatment system and began making compliant discharges. The defendant was charged criminally for knowing violation of the Clean Water Act, and plead guilty. The sentencing included a federal fine, community service and probation. The defendant was ordered by the court to resign the CEO position, and to have no further role in the company.
From the Department of Justice press statement of Feb 13, 2015, the US Attorney Daly stated, "Managers of Connecticut factories who knowingly violate federal and state environmental law risk federal prosecution and a felony conviction. The Clean Water Act applies to every industrial entity doing business in Connecticut. This Office will vigorously prosecute corporate officers whose decisions and actions threaten Connecticut's natural resources and harm the public's right to a clean environment. We recognize and thank the EPA and DEEP for their invaluable work in protecting the environmental integrity of Connecticut's rivers and the Long Island Sound."
EPA Special Agent in Charge of the investigation, Amon said, "This defendant engaged in a longstanding scheme of illegally dumping millions of gallons of untreated pollutants to the sewer system over a period of seven years. As the top executive, (the) Defendant cheated the public utility and undercut his competitors all while his employees and consultants were telling him to follow the law."
"This case sends a clear signal that intentionally violating the environmental laws and regulations of Connecticut will not be tolerated and will be dealt with accordingly," said DEEP Commissioner Robert Klee. "The U.S. Attorney's office aggressively prosecuted this case and has brought it to a successful conclusion. I commend their efforts."
The case was investigated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Kenyon.
Federal Fine: $30,000; Community Service: 300 hours; Probation: 36 months
See last week's CrimeBox here, "Water testing lab falsifies results to the EPA, FDA; Lab President jailed"
CrimeBox briefs are compiled from EPA Criminal Enforcement records.
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