Florida Men Convicted of Conspiracy to Violate RCRA

Ralph G. Dearden and German Delgado, both of Florida, were convicted by a jury of conspiracy to violate the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) by dumping hazardous wastes near the Everglades National Park. In addition, the jury found Dearden guilty of two counts of illegally disposing of hazardous waste. A third co-defendant, Brian Schneider, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing. All three defendants face up to five years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $250,000 on each count. The defendants conspired to dispose of 40 55-gallon drums of mercury, benzene, lead, methyl ethyl ketone, trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene and other wastes so that Dearden could save money on cleaning up his warehouse and rent it to Schneider. According to the indictment and evidence presented at the trial, Dearden owned and operated D&B Paint Manufacturing Co., in Fort Lauderdale. From the 1970's until 1995, when D&B stopped operations, it generated a variety of hazardous wastes during manufacturing. (Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)