Summary

Two Maryland trash–hauling firms pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy, making false claims, making false statements and violation of the Clean Water Act. Michael W. Stevens, vice–president of A.W. Stevens and Sons Waste Disposal Systems Inc. and operator of St. Mary’s Disposal Systems Inc., also pleaded guilty to falsely billing the Navy an estimated $800,000 through the illegal shipment of garbage to Virginia landfills. The company also pleaded guilty to falsifying a statement to the Office of Motor Carriers regarding hours the firm’s drivers spent behind the wheel. The companies agreed to pay a criminal fine of $1.3 million and a civil fine of $2 million. Stevens was ordered to serve 5 months in jail and 5 months’ home monitoring and pay a $30,000 fine. Three other defendants sentenced under the Maryland litter–control law––Albert W. Stevens, Susan Goolsby Stevens and Patrick T. Stevens––each must pay fines of $20,000 to both St. Mary’s County and Prince George’s County in Maryland, the sites of the illegal trash transfers.