CASE OF INTEREST

Date: July 18, 2003
Contact: Lisa Burroughs, Deputy District Attorney, (916) 874-6597

DISTRICT ATTORNEYS REACH $900,000 SETTLEMENT WITH ONE OF CALIFORNIA'S LARGEST GREASE HAULING BUSINESSES

District Attorney Jan Scully announced the settlement of a civil enforcement action charging a large Fresno-based grease hauling business with violations of water pollution laws. The case was based on the work of a statewide task force that was created by the California Environmental Protection Agency to focus enforcement efforts on the illegal disposal of waste grease in California.

The complaint was filed in San Joaquin County in January 2003 by thirteen District Attorneys from throughout California. The complaint alleged that Thrifty Best Service illegally dumped inedible kitchen grease into public sewers and storm drains, violating fish and game, water, and false advertising statutes. Ameriguard Maintenance Service, a successor company to Thrifty Best, was added to the complaint when Thrifty Best ceased doing business in California.

As part of the settlement, while the defendants did not admit the allegations in the complaint, Thrifty Best did admit nine counts of contempt for violating restraining orders. The $900,000 settlement in the case represents $620,400 in penalties and $279,600 in costs. Prosecutors also obtained a court order preventing Thrifty Best Service and its owner, William Shubin, from doing business in California forever. Ameriguard Maintenance Services and its owner, Michael Bessonov, are required by the court order to comply with all applicable laws and to provide the prosecutors with information verifying that fact.

The illegal disposal of restaurant grease is a significant statewide problem causing damage to sewage treatment facilities, expensive sewer back-ups and water pollution. Businesses contracting with Thrifty Best for waste grease services expected the company to properly dispose of the waste through appropriately equipped sewage treatment plants, rendering plants or recycling facilities. They were likely unaware of the unlawful disposals. The complaint alleged that Thrifty Best Service employees violated the law in at least seven incidents occurring in seven different locations, from Redding to Rancho Cucamonga.

The District Attorneys joining in today's filing include:

ELIZABETH EAGAN
District Attorney of Fresno County

RONALD L. CALHOUN
District Attorney of Kings County

ERNEST J. LICALSI
District Attorney of Madera County

GORDON SPENCER
District Attorney of Merced County

DEAN FLIPPO
District Attorney of Monterey County

JAN SCULLY
District Attorney of Sacramento County

MICHAEL RAMOS
District Attorney of San Bernardino County

JOHN D. PHILLIPS
District Attorney of San Joaquin County

McGREGOR SCOTT
District Attorney of Shasta County

DAVID W. PAULSON
District Attorney of Solano County

STEPHAN PASSALACQUA
District Attorney of Sonoma County

JAMES C. BRAZELTON
District Attorney of Stanislaus County

GREG COHEN
District Attorney of Tehama County

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