New York man serves one year in jail for illegal dumping

A Suffolk County, New York, man behind an illegal debris dumping scheme at several sites in the county was sentenced to one year in a local jail after pleading guilty to four counts of endangering the public health, safety or the environment, a report by Newsday says.
 
Thomas Datre Jr. allegedly dumped debris at four sites: Roberto Clemente Park in Brentwood, New York; a six home subdivision in Islandia built for returning veterans; a private, one-acre plot in Central Islip; and a wetlands area in Deer Park.

The investigation on this case began in April 2014 after residents called the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation to complain of illegal dumping at Clemente Park. According to the report, the debris included chunks of glass, concrete, cement and other contaminated materials and tests confirmed a number of harmful toxins were included in the debris.

Six parties, including Date Jr., were indicted for the dumping allegations. Christopher Grabe of Islandia Recycling received a six month split sentence, serving 30 days in jail and five months of community service, along with five years of probation after pleading guilty to two felonies in March 2016 for dumping debris at Clemente Park and the Central Islip site.

According to the report, one of Datre Jr.’s corporations, 5 Brothers Farming Corp., also pleaded guilty to four felonies and was fined $600,000. Ronald Cianciulli was found guilty in June 2016 after a bench trial for dumping near Atlas Asphalt in Deer Park, which is located near sensitive wetland areas. He has yet to be sentenced.

The charges against Thomas Datre Sr. were dropped, the report says. Datre Jr. pleaded guilty to his charges in March 2016.

Datre Jr. and Grabe were also called upon to help clean up the sites where the debris was dumped and help rehabilitate Roberto Clemente Park.