Dec. 15, 2000—Michael Rosenberg of Avon, Conn., was charged on Dec.7 in U.S. District Court in New Haven for allegedly violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) for disposing hazardous cleaning fluid tetrachloroethylene, commonly known as "perc."
The defendant owned and operated a business named Avenue Cleaners in Naugatuk, Conn. where he allegedly dumped perc in an area near Farmington, Conn. at his business site in Naugatuk. In addition, Rosenberg allegedly made false statements to a witness and attempted to obstruct justice with respect to the Farmington release.
If convicted on all charges, Rosenberg faces a maximum of up to five years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $250,000 each on the RCRA and false statement charges. Conviction of obstruction of justice carries a potential penalty of up to ten years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000.
The case was investigated by EPA's Criminal Investigation Division and the Environmental Crime Unit of the Connecticut Chief State's Attorney's Office with assistance from the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection and the Town of Farmington Police Department. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut.
The filing of charges is simply an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
