Businessman sentenced for illegal transporting and storing hazardous waste

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – According to the US Attorney’s office a former businessman, who currently lives in Austin, Texas, was sentenced in U.S. District Court Friday.

They say Kenneth Gravitt, 63, was sentenced, to 36 months, on convictions relating to the illegal storage, transportation and disposal of hazardous waste.

In May of this year, Gravitt pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit crimes related to the handling of hazardous waste and one count of illegal storage of hazardous waste, according to officials.

They go on to say, that the hazardous waste in this case consisted of old television and computer monitors that contained Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs), which have large amounts of toxic lead.

For a number of years, Gravitt operated Global Environmental Services (GES), in Georgetown, Kentucky, which was in the business of recycling electronic waste, according to the US Attorney’s office.

“The illegal disposal of hazardous waste endangers us all,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “We have these prohibitions for a reason: they protect the environment, public health, public funds, and the safety of people in our community. When people endanger the community merely to serve their own interests, that conduct simply has to be prosecuted.”

“The defendant in this case put human health and the environment at risk by improperly storing and disposing of hazardous wastes,” said Special Agent in Charge Andy Castro of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Kentucky. “This case shows that companies and their top executives who knowingly violate hazardous waste laws will be prosecuted.”