Summary of Criminal Prosecutions
FISCAL YEAR: 2012
1. PRINCIPAL DEFENDANT: Steve Avery
E.D. Virginia 2:11CR 190
E.D. Virginia 2:11CR 190
2. DEFENDANT: Jason Podd
E.D. Virginia 2:13MJ32
E.D. Virginia 2:13MJ32
3. DEFENDANT: S.E.A. Solutions Corporation
E.D. Virginia 2:11CR 190
E.D. Virginia 2:11CR 190
4. DEFENDANT: William Joe Avery
E.D. Virginia 2:11CR 190
E.D. Virginia 2:11CR 190
Steven and Billy Avery operated the defendant corporation, Sea Solutions, Inc. In February 2010, Sea Solutions, Inc. purchased a vessel known as M/V Snow Bird for the purpose of scrapping, with the knowledge that it contained a quantity of petroleum products and other pollutants. Despite knowing that these waste products were onboard the M/V Snow Bird and needed to be removed, the defendants commenced scrapping operations with the pollutants onboard. Over the course of several months, witnesses complained of pollutants emanating from the M/V Snow Bird. Finally, in October of 2010, the defendants caused a major spill of oil, oily water, and other pollutants from the M/V Snow Bird into the Elizabeth River. The cleanup operation removed several thousand gallons of oily waste from the Elizabeth River and the shoreline at the cost to the United States of over $66,000.
November 16, 2011
Steve and William Avery were charged with multiple counts of violating the CWA {33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(1)(A) - negligent violation; 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A) - knowingly violates}; making false statements, a violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001; conspiracy, a violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.
CITATION: 18 U.S.C. 1001, 33 U.S.C. 1311(a), 33 U.S.C. 1319, 33 U.S.C. 407, 42 U.S.C. 7413(c)(4)
April 13, 2012
Steve and William Avery pled guilty to all counts charged.
Ship Scrapping Company, Owners, Plead Guilty to Environmental Crimes FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 13, 2012 NORFOLK, Va. – Steven E. Avery, 56, of Bohannon, VA, Billy J. Avery, 81, of Virginia Beach, VA, and the corporation Sea Solutions, Inc., all pleaded guilty yesterday in Norfolk federal court to various environmental crimes stemming from their activities in the ship scrapping business. Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement that the plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen. The three will all be sentenced on July 12, 2012. Steven and Billy Avery each face a minimum 30 days and a maximum of 1 year in prison, Sea Solutions, Inc., faces up to a $500,000 fine and five years of probation. According to court documents, Steven E. Avery and Billy J. Avery operated the defendant corporation, Sea Solutions, Inc. In February 2010, Sea Solutions, Inc. purchased a vessel known as M/V Snow Bird for the purpose of scrapping with the knowledge that it contained a quantity of petroleum products and other pollutants. Despite knowing that these waste products were onboard the M/V Snow Bird and needed to be removed, the defendants commenced scrapping operations with the pollutants onboard. Over the course of several months, witnesses complained of pollutants emanating from the M/V Snow Bird. Finally, in October of 2010, the defendants caused a major spill of oil, oily water, and other pollutants from the M/V Snow Bird into the Elizabeth River. The cleanup operation removed several thousand gallons of oily waste from the Elizabeth River and the shoreline at the cost to the United States of over $66,000. “America’s waterways must be protected from companies that look to cut corners by discharging oily waste water illegally,” said David G. McLeod, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) criminal enforcement program in Virginia. “Improper waste disposal endangers not only the environment but human health. EPA is committed to making sure criminal violations of environmental laws are not tolerated.” This case was investigated by agents from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Coast Guard Investigative Service, and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph L. Kosky and Melissa O’Boyle are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
Ship Scrapping Company, Owners, Plead Guilty to Environmental Crimes FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 13, 2012 NORFOLK, Va. – Steven E. Avery, 56, of Bohannon, VA, Billy J. Avery, 81, of Virginia Beach, VA, and the corporation Sea Solutions, Inc., all pleaded guilty yesterday in Norfolk federal court to various environmental crimes stemming from their activities in the ship scrapping business. Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement that the plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen. The three will all be sentenced on July 12, 2012. Steven and Billy Avery each face a minimum 30 days and a maximum of 1 year in prison, Sea Solutions, Inc., faces up to a $500,000 fine and five years of probation. According to court documents, Steven E. Avery and Billy J. Avery operated the defendant corporation, Sea Solutions, Inc. In February 2010, Sea Solutions, Inc. purchased a vessel known as M/V Snow Bird for the purpose of scrapping with the knowledge that it contained a quantity of petroleum products and other pollutants. Despite knowing that these waste products were onboard the M/V Snow Bird and needed to be removed, the defendants commenced scrapping operations with the pollutants onboard. Over the course of several months, witnesses complained of pollutants emanating from the M/V Snow Bird. Finally, in October of 2010, the defendants caused a major spill of oil, oily water, and other pollutants from the M/V Snow Bird into the Elizabeth River. The cleanup operation removed several thousand gallons of oily waste from the Elizabeth River and the shoreline at the cost to the United States of over $66,000. “America’s waterways must be protected from companies that look to cut corners by discharging oily waste water illegally,” said David G. McLeod, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) criminal enforcement program in Virginia. “Improper waste disposal endangers not only the environment but human health. EPA is committed to making sure criminal violations of environmental laws are not tolerated.” This case was investigated by agents from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Coast Guard Investigative Service, and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph L. Kosky and Melissa O’Boyle are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
July 13, 2012
Steve Avery was sentenced to 12 months incarceration, 12 months probation, ordered to pay a $25,000 federal fine.
William Avery was sentenced to 60 months probation, ordered to pay a federal fine in the amount of $25,000.
SEA Solutions was sentenced to 12 months probation.
The three defendants were also collectively ordered to pay $66,402.41 in restitution.
Ship Scrapping Company and Owners Sentenced for Environmental Crimes FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 12, 2012 NORFOLK, Va. – Steven E. Avery, 56, of Bohannon, Va., Billy J. Avery, 81, of Virginia Beach, Va., and the corporation Sea Solutions, Inc., were all sentenced today in Norfolk federal court for various environmental crimes stemming from their activities in the ship scrapping business. Steven Avery was sentenced to 1 year in prison and a $25,000 fine, Billy Avery was sentenced to 5 years probation, 9 months home confinement, and a $25,000 fine, and Sea Solutions was sentenced to 1 year probation and is barred from further engaging in the ship scrapping business. The three defendants were also collectively ordered to pay $66,402.41 in restitution. Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and David G. McLeod, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) criminal enforcement program in Virginia, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen. All three previously entered guilty pleas to the charges on April 13, 2012. “The defendants knowingly polluted the environment through their illegal discharges,” said EPA SAC McLeod. “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message to other potential violators that companies and their senior executives will be held responsible for their actions and intentional noncompliance with the law will be prosecuted.” According to court documents, Steven and Billy Avery operated the defendant corporation, Sea Solutions, Inc. In February 2010, Sea Solutions, Inc. purchased a vessel known as M/V Snow Bird for the purpose of scrapping, with the knowledge that it contained a quantity of petroleum products and other pollutants. Despite knowing that these waste products were onboard the M/V Snow Bird and needed to be removed, the defendants commenced scrapping operations with the pollutants onboard. Over the course of several months, witnesses complained of pollutants emanating from the M/V Snow Bird. Finally, in October of 2010, the defendants caused a major spill of oil, oily water, and other pollutants from the M/V Snow Bird into the Elizabeth River. The cleanup operation removed several thousand gallons of oily waste from the Elizabeth River and the shoreline at the cost to the United States of over $66,000. This case was investigated by agents from the EPA, the Coast Guard Investigative Service, and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph L. Kosky and Melissa O’Boyle prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Ship Scrapping Company and Owners Sentenced for Environmental Crimes FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 12, 2012 NORFOLK, Va. – Steven E. Avery, 56, of Bohannon, Va., Billy J. Avery, 81, of Virginia Beach, Va., and the corporation Sea Solutions, Inc., were all sentenced today in Norfolk federal court for various environmental crimes stemming from their activities in the ship scrapping business. Steven Avery was sentenced to 1 year in prison and a $25,000 fine, Billy Avery was sentenced to 5 years probation, 9 months home confinement, and a $25,000 fine, and Sea Solutions was sentenced to 1 year probation and is barred from further engaging in the ship scrapping business. The three defendants were also collectively ordered to pay $66,402.41 in restitution. Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and David G. McLeod, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) criminal enforcement program in Virginia, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen. All three previously entered guilty pleas to the charges on April 13, 2012. “The defendants knowingly polluted the environment through their illegal discharges,” said EPA SAC McLeod. “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message to other potential violators that companies and their senior executives will be held responsible for their actions and intentional noncompliance with the law will be prosecuted.” According to court documents, Steven and Billy Avery operated the defendant corporation, Sea Solutions, Inc. In February 2010, Sea Solutions, Inc. purchased a vessel known as M/V Snow Bird for the purpose of scrapping, with the knowledge that it contained a quantity of petroleum products and other pollutants. Despite knowing that these waste products were onboard the M/V Snow Bird and needed to be removed, the defendants commenced scrapping operations with the pollutants onboard. Over the course of several months, witnesses complained of pollutants emanating from the M/V Snow Bird. Finally, in October of 2010, the defendants caused a major spill of oil, oily water, and other pollutants from the M/V Snow Bird into the Elizabeth River. The cleanup operation removed several thousand gallons of oily waste from the Elizabeth River and the shoreline at the cost to the United States of over $66,000. This case was investigated by agents from the EPA, the Coast Guard Investigative Service, and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph L. Kosky and Melissa O’Boyle prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
January 30, 2013
Podd was charged with violating the CWA.
February 13, 2013
Podd pled guilty and was sentenced to 30 days home confinement and to pay a $2,500 federal fine.
STATUTE:
- Clean Water Act (CWA)
- Title 18 U.S. Criminal Code (TITLE 18)