Memphis Man Indicted for Illegal Storage of Hazardous Waste

MEMPHIS, TN—Johnnie Williams, 68, of Memphis, Tennessee surrendered to the United States Marshal’s Service pursuant to an arrest warrant issued yesterday after he was indicted for illegal storage of hazardous waste, in violation of the Resource Conservation and Recovery act, Title 42, United States Code, Section 6928(d)(2)(A) announced Lawrence J. Laurenzi, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.

The one count indictment charges, that from 2002 to 2007, Williams, the President of American Drum and Pallet Company, Inc., illegally stored hazardous waste. According to the Indictment, American Drum was in the business of acquiring steel and poly drums from chemical and manufacturing companies that used solvents and other hazardous materials. The Indictment alleges that when American Drum received drums that were not empty, Williams, who knew that some of the materials were hazardous, instructed employees to pour the contents into another drum. The Indictment alleges that Williams never obtained a permit to store hazardous waste nevertheless the drums, into which hazardous waste had been poured, were set aside and remained on site. 

Williams was previously convicted in the United States District Court in the Western District Tennessee of illegal storage and illegal disposal of hazardous waste at W&R Drum, a company that reconditioned previously used metal drums, in violation of 42, United States Code, Section 6928(d)(2)(A).

The penalty for this violation is up to four years in federal prison and a $100,000 fine for each day of the violation.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Environmental Protection Agency.  Assistant United States Attorney John Fabian is handling the prosecution for the government.