Ladysmith E-Waste Recyclers Face Criminal Charges for Hazardous Waste Violations

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Three former employees of Ladysmith-based 5R Processors Ltd. face criminal charge in federal court for illegal storage and transportation of hazardous waste materials.

The three accused are owner Thomas Drake and corporate officers James Moss and Bonnie Dennee, who face charges of conspiracy to store and transport hazardous materials consisting of leaded glass from CRTs without necessary permits. Additionally, Moss is charged with conspiracy to evade the payment of employment and income taxes. According to U.S. Attorney with the Western District of Wisconsin, the defendants have agreed to plead guilty to the conspiracy charge.

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The court filing says that the business involved in separation of lead glass from cathode ray tubes taken from computer monitors and televisions. Until 2011, the company had disposed of the leaded CRT glass through vendors. However, between 2011 and 2016, the defendants knowingly stored the materials at facilities in Catawba and Glen Flora, Wisconsin, and Morristown, Tennessee and transported the same without required manifest. Also, they concealed the violations from state regulators as well as auditors, it says.

If convicted, the defendants will have to face penalty of up to five years in prison, restitution and a fine of $250,000.