Chemical Company Pleads Guilty to Cape Fear River Pollution
American Distillation Inc. (ADI) pleaded guilty to violating the federal Clean Water Act by knowingly dumping tert-Butyl alcohol (TBOH) and other chemicals into North Carolina's Cape Fear River. The company deliberately discharged approximately 2,500 gallons of chemical-laden wastewater five to six times annually from late 2019 through 2024 to maximize profits. ADI's owner also pleaded guilty to tax evasion, following a former plant manager’s earlier guilty plea. Authorities emphasize the significant environmental threat posed by these intentional acts.
American Distillation Inc. (ADI), a chemical processing company located in Navassa, N.C., has pleaded guilty to serious violations of the federal Clean Water Act. ADI admitted to knowingly polluting the Cape Fear River by discharging tert-Butyl alcohol (TBOH), isopropyl alcohol, and acetone-laden wastewater. The company's owner, Andrew J. Simmons Jr., also pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion, while former plant manager Barry Darnell White previously admitted guilt for his role in the pollution.According to court information, ADI accepted more TBOH and other chemicals than it could legally process from late 2019 through 2024. To maintain maximum profits and avoid potential dissolution, ADI repeatedly released approximately 2,500 gallons of liquid wastewater from a 250,000-gallon storage tank (Tank 14) directly into the Cape Fear River, typically five to six times per year. U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle highlighted that this was a deliberate act, not an accident, driven by profit over safety.Officials from the EPA and IRS, who are investigating the case, condemned ADI's multi-year illegal discharges as a severe threat to the river's water quality and its diverse ecosystems, which support rare aquatic species and old-growth forests. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Beraka is prosecuting the case, with statements from authorities underscoring their commitment to holding corporations criminally accountable for environmental crimes that endanger public health and the environment.
