Investigations

On February 25, 2019, Wiley Sanders Truck Lines, Inc. (Wiley Sanders) pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court, Central District of California, Los Angeles, to three counts of violating hazardous materials transportation regulations. On separate occasions in August and November 2013, and again in March 2014, the company used semi-trucks to transport nearly 130,000 pounds of battery recycling waste without authorized packaging from a facility in Vernon, California.

 

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Wiley Sanders agreed to pay a $1.5 million fine to the Federal Government, as well as a separate $1.5 million community service payment to support remediation and testing efforts in the area where the battery recycling took place. Wiley Sanders also agreed to serve 3 years’ probation under terms that will be established by the court at sentencing, currently scheduled for May 6, 2019.

 

DOT-OIG conducted this investigation with the Environmental Protection Agency–Criminal Investigation Division (EPA-CID) and California Department of Toxic Substances Control.