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PA FLORIDA COMPANY EXECUTIVE PLEADS GUILTY TO HAZARDOUS WASTE CHARGES
Release Date: 10/09/98
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FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1998
FLORIDA COMPANY EXECUTIVE PLEADS GUILTY TO
HAZARDOUS WASTE CHARGES
HAZARDOUS WASTE CHARGES
William Recht of Long Boat Key, Fla., pleaded guilty on Sept. 29, in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in Tampa on charges that he violated the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act by illegally storing hazardous wastes without a permit. Recht was the chief executive officer of the William Recht Co., which owned Durex Industries, a company that
formerly operated a print roller manufacturing facility in Tampa. Recht illegally stored hazardous wastes at the Durex facility between August 1993 and March 1994. This illegal storage occurred after the company and its plant manager were found guilty of hazardous waste law violations involving the deaths of two nine-year-old boys who were playing in a dumpster at the Durex facility on June 13, 1992. Durex, which is defunct and devoid of assets, was fined $1.5 million, but has not paid its fine. In a separate agreement, Recht agreed to pay $800,000 of that fine out of his personal funds to the families of the boys as restitution. Each family will receive $400,000. In addition, Recht and the government have agreed that he pay a further $200,000 in fines, serve six months detention and provide 1000 hours in community service. The case was investigated by EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division, the FBI, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department.
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