Summary

Charles Sheffield and City Fire Equipment Co., a firm formerly certified by RSPA to safety-test
compressed gas cylinders, were sentenced in Biloxi, MS. Sheffield and the corporation each
were fined $2,500 and sentenced to 3 years' probation by a U.S. District Court judge. As part
of the plea agreement, Sheffield is barred from reentering the cylinder-testing business, which
is regulated by DOT. Sheffield and the firm had pleaded guilty to violating the Federal
Hazardous Materials Transportation Law. Sheffield and City Fire falsely certified that cylinders
were tested without performing the required tests. City Fire's retesting certification was revoked
by the Research and Special Programs Administration in mid-1999.