Everyone expects the
price of HCFC refrigerants to be going up in the near future. Why else would
industrious entrepreneurs in Miami attempt to hoard a little bit extra for some
of their closest friends?
Evidently, the EPA
was a little miffed at the amount of R-22 that a Florida corporation was
importing through Miami. They deemed that a total of 1,418,654 kilograms
(3,121,039 pounds) in 11 different shipments during a two-year period might
have been for more than personal consumption - kind of like that fine line for
medicinal marijuana use.
Kroy Corp., the
Cheech and Chong of the refrigerant importation business, plead guilty on Nov.
20, 2009 to charges related to illegally smuggling restricted ozone-depleting
substances into the United States, contrary to the Clean Air Act, Title 42,
United States Code, Sections 7413(c)(1) and 7671d, in violation of Title 18,
United States Code, Section 545.
Woe to he who messes
with the code.
And you thought the
EPA couldn’t enforce the law.
So, what will happen
to Kroy and its president, James Garrido? Actually, the three-count charge
could carry $500,000 per count for the company, and a five-year probation per
count. Garrido faces a possible 20 years and $250,000 on each count, and
three-years supervised release per count. In addition, the defendants could be
ordered to forfeit the illegal proceeds.
The guilty pleas may be part of a bargaining arrangement that surfaces
later, but at first glance, it looks like the EPA is issuing a statement that
it’s not nice to mess with Mother Nature.
R-22 Thieves Caught
By Mike Murphy
Mike Murphy has more than 30 years’ experience in HVACR manufacturing, product development, marketing, sales, and publishing. Murphy holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration & Marketing.
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