WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |Companies sentenced for illegal dumping

Companies sentenced for illegal dumping

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - Two companies and a man were sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty to disposing of solid waste in a wetland area.

Charlie Hampton, 55, Hamp's Enterprises, LLC and Hamp's Construction, LLC were fined a total of $40,000 and were ordered to clean up an illegal dumping site in New Orleans East.

During an operation to stop illegal dumping, agents with the Department of Environmental Quality's Criminal Investigation Division saw trucks operated by Hampton and Hamp's Construction illegally dumping construction debris in a vacant lot along Almonaster Blvd. in New Orleans East.

“The Almonaster Corridor in New Orleans East has been a historic dumping site since before DEQ even existed,” said Harold Leggett, DEQ Secretary. “It will take continuing and vigilant efforts by DEQ, local and federal agencies to end illegal dumping and other illegal activities in this area.”

In April 2009, Hampton was arrested by DEQ agents for allegedly submitting documents that contained false inspection certifications.  The false certifications were related to Asbestos Notification of Demolitions and Renovation Forms for work in the New Orleans area.  According to information gathered during the investigation, none of these mandatory inspections occurred.

Since the documents were submitted in Baton Rouge, this portion of the case was prosecuted by the East Baton Rouge District Attorney's Office.

Hamp's Enterprises, LLC plead guilty in the 19th Judicial District court in Baton Rouge to willfully and knowingly violating a filing requirement of the DEQ.

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