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10/29/2025
WT Staff
 Knowledge of an environmental crime? Give us a call at 877-52-WATER (877-529-2837), or email info@wtny.us
Oct 29, 2025 409 pm EDT
CrimeBox
Historic Conviction Fiscal Year 2013; Case ID# CR_2420(Maryland)
Dumping rocks into Chesapeake Bay, without a permit, results in costly clean-up and probation
"This country's environmental laws are aimed at keeping our inland waterways free from materials that do not belong there. By ignoring restrictions on fill material in and around Chesapeake Bay, the defendant interfered with the critical habitat of an endangered species. Today's guilty plea and sentencing demonstrates that those who illegally alter or destroy these essential natural resources will be prosecuted."
-David G. McLeod, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Investigation Division
The defendant in this case the owner of waterfront cliff-top property in Calvert County, Maryland. In May of 2010, the 55yr old homeowner dredged up piles of rock from the property overlooking Chesapeake Bay, and proceeded to push the material off the cliff.
Investigators found the defendant did not have a permit to release rock, also called rip-rap, into Chesapeake Bay. The large rocks damaged the cliff face, tearing away soil and vegetation as they slid down to the water. According to the prosecution, the illegal discharge disturbed critical habitat of endangered species.
The defendant pled guilty to a felony charge, a single count, "knowing violation of the Clean Water Act" for discharging contaminants into navigable waters of the USA. Chief U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced the defendant to two years of probation, and ordered site restored, at the defendant's expense.
Had the defendant considered the cost of proper disposal of the large rocks prohibitive, certainly the cost of retrieval from the bay would have been the more costly option. Sentencing did not include a federal fine or additional restitution payments, as the cost to revert the dump site to its former state was all the financial penalty necessary to deter similar acts in the future, a cautionary tale for the public.
Restitution/Community Service: clean up the damage at defendant's expense; Probation: 24 months
See last week's CrimeBox, "Pharmaceutical manufacturer convicted for illegal discharges to Thames River ", here.
CrimeBox briefs are compiled from EPA Criminal Enforcement records.
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