Five Charged With Illegal Importation, Sale of CFCs
NEW HAVEN, CT — A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging five men for allegedly engaging in a scheme involving the illegal importation and stateside selling of hundreds of tons of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). They are now facing dozens of charges listed in a 62-page indictment unsealed here on July 30.
CFCs are subject to strict regulation under the Clean Air Act, and the United States has international treaty obligations under the Montreal Protocol to reduce the production and consumption of ozone-depleting chemicals. The importation of CFCs into the United States is generally limited to already-used CFCs. In addition, CFCs are subject to a substantial excise tax upon sale within the United States.