A pallet recycling company and its former owner were
sentenced for criminal violations related to the falsification of certificate
stamps in violation of the Plant Protection Act by the U.S. District Court for
the Eastern District of New York, according to a Justice Department press
release. American Pallet Recycling LLC
(APR) will pay a fine of $100,000, and its former president and owner, Raymond
Viola, will pay $1,000 and serve three years of probation, after relinquishing
the business to his son. APR plead
guilty to one felony count of falsifying stamps that certified wood pallets
were heat treated to prevent pest infestation, and were suitable for use in
international transportation. Viola
plead guilty to a similar misdemeanor count.
Heat treatment is required in order to prevent parasites and plant diseases from entering the United States in wood packaging materials. Wood pallets that carry products transported within the United States are not required to be heat treated. From March 2007 through January 2011, Viola created copies of stamp certifications used by legitimate wood pallet treating companies, which he and his employees applied to pallets APR sold. Those pallets were then used to carry products from the United States to foreign countries in violation of the Plant Protection Act. The charges against APR and Viola involved the fraudulent stamp certification of hundreds of untreated wood pallets that were sold to other companies for use in product export.
Heat treatment is required in order to prevent parasites and plant diseases from entering the United States in wood packaging materials. Wood pallets that carry products transported within the United States are not required to be heat treated. From March 2007 through January 2011, Viola created copies of stamp certifications used by legitimate wood pallet treating companies, which he and his employees applied to pallets APR sold. Those pallets were then used to carry products from the United States to foreign countries in violation of the Plant Protection Act. The charges against APR and Viola involved the fraudulent stamp certification of hundreds of untreated wood pallets that were sold to other companies for use in product export.
