An Ohio man faced sentencing in federal court this month for the alleged act of dumping pollutants and hazardous substances into waterways, resulting in the death of thousands of fish.
Mark Shepherd is the proud owner and operator of Cessna Transport Inc. and A.G. Bradley Inc.
In 2021, Shepherd dumped seven thousand gallons of ammonia into the Scioto River, resulting in the death of over 43,000 fish, as reported by the Ohio Division of Wildlife.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio has determined that this activity is in violation of the Clean Water Act. As a result of this illegal action, various species including smallmouth bass, flathead catfish, sunfish, and minnows have suffered fatalities.
The court handed down a sentence of 12 months of probation, along with 150 hours of community service and a $5,000 fine.
As part of the court’s decision, he was also directed to compensate the Division of Wildlife with a payment of $22,000 for the loss of the animals.
Wildlife officials expressed concerns about the fish kill and its potential impact on bald eagles, who rely on the river as a source of food. Ongoing monitoring of the affected river area is being conducted to assess any harm caused to the local wildlife.
