A local businessman has admitted to dumping over three million gallons of waste into the City of Jackson’s sewer system.
Andrew Walker, owner of Rebel High Velocity Sewer Services, pled guilty in Federal District Court before Judge Kristi Haskins Johnson to having illegally discharged industrial waste into the capital city’s sewer system from November 2016 to October 2017.
Through his violation of the Clean Water Act, Walker, 70, and his coconspirators were able to evade sewer usage fees, plus the cost of disposing waste at legal off-site facilities.
“The Clean Water Act is in place to not only protect the environment but to safeguard our communities and residents from the risks of industrial waste,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Michelle Sutphin said. “Circumventing the law to improperly dispose of waste in order to make a profit is a crime that the FBI and our partners take seriously.”
Walker faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for one count of conspiracy, as well as an additional three years for one count of discharging industrial waste. Each count can also merit a fine of up to $250,000.
