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Office of Inspector General

Investigations

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Investigators conduct the EPA OIG’s criminal investigations, which look for violations of the law. Investigations may involve such areas as financial fraud, employee misconduct, intrusion into EPA systems and computers, impersonating EPA officials and theft of EPA property and funds. If a federal law is violated, the OIG presents the evidence to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which determines if the subject(s) will be prosecuted. If the OIG’s investigation uncovers no evidence that a crime was committed, the case is closed. If the investigation finds administrative but no criminal violation, a report is given to the agency for action. 

The OIG typically does not announce, confirm or deny the existence of an open investigation or make public the results of investigations. However, once an investigation has been closed, the report of investigation (ROI) and related documents may be available under the Freedom of Information Act.

Learn more about the types of investigations that the OIG may undertake related to the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on EPA and CSB programs and operations.

What is the EPA OIG?

The Office of Inspector General is an independent organization that performs audits and investigations of the EPA to detect and prevent fraud, waste and abuse. Learn more

News Releases Highlighting Investigations


News releases reporting on the specific results of investigations, including criminal sentencings and convictions. The following links exit the site Exit

2020
Date News Release
Dec 10, 2020  Newport Woman Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Stealing from Federally Funded Program
Sep 23, 2020 Nigerian Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Computer Hacking Scheme that Targeted Government Employees
Jan 31, 2020 Man from Tucson, Arizona sentenced to 18 months in prison for sending letters threatening to kill Albuquerque police officers
2019
Date News Release
Oct 2, 2019 Nigerian National Appears On Charges Relating To Computer Hacking Scheme That Targeted Government Employees
Aug 15, 2019 Government Contractor Settles Civil False Claims Act Allegations
Mar 25, 2019 Duke University Agrees to Pay U.S. $112.5 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations Related to Scientific Research Misconduct
Mar 1, 2019 Fairbanks Man Sentenced to Prison for Misapplying over $300,000 from Organization Receiving Federal Funds
2018
Date News Release
Dec 14, 2018 Appeals Court Upholds Scientists’ Fraud Convictions 
Dec 13, 2018 Whiting Man Convicted After 4-Day Jury Trial
July 31, 2018 Former Executive Director Sentenced To 37 Months In Federal Prison
June 20, 2018 Alabama Computer Store Owner Charged in Fraud Scheme to Acquire, Sell Government Computers Intended for Schools, Nonprofit Organizations
Mar 22, 2018 Fairbanks Man Charged for Misapplying Over $300,000 from Organization Receiving Federal Funds
Feb 15, 2018 Grand Jury Returns Indictment Against Former Executive Director Of The Calhoun Conservation District
2017
Date News Release
Nov 15, 2017 Environmental Training Instructor Who Falsely Certified Asbestos Abatement Courses is Sentenced
May 26, 2017 Arizona Man Arrested for Assaulting Federal Officers and Mailing Threatening Communications in New Mexico
Mar 16, 2017 South Korean Businessman Convicted on Fraud Charges in Scheme to Deceive U.S. Municipalities out of Federal Stimulus Funds
Feb 17, 2017 Florida Man Pleads Guilty in Wire Fraud Case Related to Falsified Water Testing in Dale County, Alabama
2016
Date News Release
Dec 15, 2016 Two Florida Men and a Corporation Indicted in Wire Fraud Case Related to Falsified Water Testing in Dale County
Dec 2, 2016 Palm Beach County Man Sentenced to 150 Months' Imprisonment for Role in Bonding Fraud Scheme
Nov 4, 2016 Naperville Man Charged with Possessing Child Pornography
Oct 31, 2016 Two Individuals Ordered to Pay Over $4 Million in Restitution For Their Participation in a Conspiracy to Defraud Federal Agencies and Federal Contractors
Aug 9, 2016 Former CEO of Canadian Hazardous Waste Treatment Company Sentenced to Serve 63 Months in Prison for Role in Kickback and Fraud Schemes Against the United States
July 15, 2016 Palm Beach County Resident Found Guilty of Defrauding Federal Agencies
July 13, 2016 Former Fultonville Resident Sentenced to 18 Months for Environmental Fraud Scheme
Apr 21, 2016 Two Individuals Plead Guilty in Conspiracy to Defraud Over Ten Federal Agencies
Mar 16, 2016 Former CEO of Canadian Hazardous Waste Treatment Company Convicted of Conspiracy to Pay Kickbacks and Committing Major Fraud against the United States
2015
Date News Release
Dec 3, 2015 Civil Settlement Reached With Environmental Testing Company Over Claims That Testing Procedures Were Not Followed
Oct 23, 2015 Former Finance Director Of Alaska Inter-Tribal Council Sentenced In Federal Court For Theft Of Funds
Oct 22, 2015 Former Executive Director Of Alaska Inter-Tribal Council Sentenced To 21 Months In Federal Prison For Theft Of Funds
Sept 11, 2015 Scientists Sentenced To Prison For Defrauding The Small Business Innovation Research Program
Aug 29, 2015 Edinburg Man Arrested for Making Threats
Aug 12, 2015 HD Supply Waterworks To Pay Nearly $5 Million To Resolve Grant Fraud Allegations 
July 30, 2015 Former EPA Agent Sentenced for Making a False Statement in Connection with Pyramid Scheme
July 1, 2015  Chemical Polluter Convicted in Massive Scheme to Deceive the EPA
May 20, 2015 Nigerian Man Sentenced To Three Years In Prison For Role In Computer Hacking Scheme That Targeted Government Employees
May 14, 2015 Duke Energy Subsidiaries Plead Guilty And Sentenced To Pay $102 Million For Clean Water Act Crimes
Apr 14, 2015 Man Sentenced To 30 Months In Federal Prison For Possessing Over 50,000 Images Of Child Pornography
Apr 10, 2015 Former Executive And Finance Directors Of Alaska Tribal Organization Plead Guilty To Stealing Funds
Mar 23, 2015 Federal Jury Convicts Scientists Of Wire Fraud, Identity Theft, And Obstruction 
Feb 26, 2015 Justice Department Inspector General Commends Montana U.S. Attorney's Guardians Project
Jan 29, 2015 Federal Jury Convicts Former Finance Manager of the Rocky Boy Health Clinic
2014
Date News Release
Dec 18, 2014 Savannah Man Sentenced On False Statement Charge
Dec 5, 2014 Two Tampa Corporations And Four Tampa Residents Sentenced In Connection With Scheme To Unlawfully Sell An Unregistered Pesticide And Obstruct Justice 
Nov 17, 2014 Canadian Executive Extradited on Major Fraud Charges Involving a New Jersey Environmental Protection Agency Superfund Site
June 10, 2014 Nigerian Man Admits Role In Computer Hacking Scheme That Targeted Government Employees
May 28, 2014 Jett Industries Pays $500,000 To Settle Civil Fraud Allegations
Apr 4, 2014 Co-Owner of New Jersey Industrial Pipes Supply Company Pleads Guilty to Making False Statement in Connection with Superfund Investigation
Mar 4, 2014 Former Project Manager Sentenced to Serve Time in Prison for Role in Bid Rigging and Other Fraudulent Schemes Involving Two EPA Superfund Sites in New Jersey 
Feb 12, 2014 Two Tampa Corporations and Four Tampa Residents Indicted in Scheme to Unlawfully Sell an Unregistered Pesticide and Obstruct Justice 
Jan 8, 2014 Upstate Laboratories Sentenced to probation for 5 years and a $150,000 fine for committing mail fraud 
2013
Date News Release
Sept 30, 2013 Former Project Manager Convicted For Role In Conspiracy Schemes Involving Two Epa Superfund Sites In New Jersey
Sept 27, 2013 Former EPA Senior Policy Advisor Pleads Guilty To Theft in Scheme That Cost Government Nearly $900,000
Sept 19, 2013 Halliburton Pleads Guilty to Destruction of Evidence in Connection with Deepwater Horizon Disaster and Is Sentenced to Statutory Maximum Fine
Jan 29, 2013 BP Exploration and Production Inc. Pleads Guilty, Is Sentenced to Pay Record $4 Billon for Crimes Surrounding Deepwater Horizon Incident
2012
Date News Release
Oct 16, 2012 West Palm Beach Company and Owners Charged with Conspiracy to Commit Fraud in Connection with Bogus Septic Tank Products
Sept 13, 2012 Managers of West Palm Beach Septic Tank Products Sentenced for Fraud
June 25, 2012 Owner of "Clean Green Fuel" Convicted of Scheme to Violate EPA Regulations and Sell $9 Million in Fraudulent Renewable Fuel Claims
2011  
Date News Release
Nov 22, 2011 West Palm Beach Sellers of Unnecessary Septic Tank Products Plead Guilty to Wire Fraud
Oct 6, 2011 Federal Grand Jury Indicts David P. Preston on Wire Fraud Charges
Oct 4, 2011 Former EPA-CID Special Agent in Texas Pleads Guilty to Perjury and Obstruction of Justice
Oct 3, 2011 Owner of Clean Green Fuel Charged in Scheme to Sell Over $9 Million in Fraudulent Renewable Fuel Credits
Sept 20, 2011 Local Contractor Pleads Guilty To Defrauding City Of Sacramento Of Stimulus Funds
Sept 12, 2011 Canadian National Sentenced to Serve 50 Months in Prison for Role in Fraud and Money Laundering Conspiracies Involving New Jersey Environmental Protection Agency at Superfund Site
July 27, 2011 Former EPA-CID Special Agent Charged with Perjury and Obstruction of Justice
June 20, 2011 Boise couple sentenced in federal court for conspiring to defraud the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality of federal grant funds that were to be used to install diesel emission reduction equipment on Idaho school buses
June 1, 2011 New York Man Ordered to Pay Over $400,000 in Restitution and Fines for Role in Kickback Scheme at New Jersey Superfund Sites
May 17, 2011 Hayward Baker Settlement
April 6, 2011 New Jersey Wastewater Treatment and Chemical Supply Company and Owner Sentence for Their Role in Fraud Conspiracy 

Employee Integrity Cases


Summaries of employee integrity investigation cases closed during semiannual reporting periods now are included within our Semiannual Reports to Congress. The first such report captures data covering October 2016 through March 2017.

For those consulting earlier reports posted on this page, please be aware that numbers compared within a chart, or in relation to the narratives, may not correlate. Beginning with the set of summaries covering October 2015 through March 2016, statistical charts are not included.

Report Title
Closed Employee Integrity Cases April 1, 2016, to Sept 30, 2016
Closed Employee Integrity Cases Oct 1, 2015, to Mar 31, 2016
Closed Employee Integrity Cases: April 1, 2015 - Sept 30, 2015
Closed Employee Integrity Cases: Oct 1, 2014 - Mar 31, 2015
Closed Employee Integrity Cases: April 1, 2014 - Sept 30, 2014
Closed Employee Integrity Cases: Oct 1, 2013 - Mar 31, 2014
Closed Employee Integrity Cases: April 1, 2013 - Sept 30, 2013

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OIG Independence of EPA

The EPA's Office of Inspector General is a part of the EPA, although Congress provides our funding separate from the agency, to ensure our independence. We were created pursuant to the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended Exit.

Environmental Protection Agency  |  Office of Inspector General
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (2410T)  |  Washington, DC 20460  |  (202) 566-2391
OIG Hotline: 1-888-546-8740.