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Court Convicts Trucker Who Illegally Dumped 19,000 Liters of Diesel, Causing Serious Environmental Impact
A truck driver was sentenced to prison after illegally dumping 19,000 liters of diesel on the ground, causing serious environmental damage. The driver’s criminal actions had a significant impact on the local ecosystem, compromising the soil, vegetation, and water quality in the area.
In a case of major environmental impact, a truck driver was convicted in the state of Maryland for illegally dumping more than 5,000 gallons of diesel, approximately 19,000 liters, at multiple sites in Anne Arundel County.
The driver’s actions caused severe environmental damage, affecting the quality of the soil, water and putting public health at risk.
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At the beginning of November, Maryland’s Attorney General, Anthony G. Brown, announced the guilty plea of Larry A. Gross, a 46-year-old truck driver from Waldorf. Gross admitted to violating state environmental laws by improperly disposing of diesel fuel.
The Trucker’s Confession
On November 6, 2024, Gross pleaded guilty before Judge Stacy W. McCormack in the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court.
He was sentenced to one year in prison but will serve only 60 days in the County Detention Center, with the remainder of the sentence suspended.
Additionally, he was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine to the Oil Disaster Containment, Cleanup, and Emergency Fund of the state.
Gross will also serve five years of supervised probation. Attorney General Brown emphasized the seriousness of the case and stated that he would not tolerate such irresponsible actions.
“Dumping thousands of gallons of diesel fuel in public areas is an irresponsible act that threatens the health of our citizens and the integrity of the environment. Our office will continue to take action against those who violate Maryland’s environmental laws,” Brown declared.
The Details of the Trucker’s Environmental Crime
Investigations revealed that Larry Gross was the principal operator of H&M Truckin, LLC, and also worked as a contractor for M Pittman Enterprises (MPE), a fuel distributor based in Virginia.
On October 3, 2023, Gross used a tanker truck rented from MPE to collect approximately 7,500 gallons of diesel at the Motiva fuel terminal, located in Baltimore City.
In the early hours of October 4, he delivered 2,159 gallons of diesel to a fuel depot in Elkridge, Maryland. However, over 5,000 gallons remained in the truck, creating a logistical problem for Gross.
By regulation, truck drivers cannot transport diesel and gasoline at the same time. To refuel the truck with gasoline, the remaining diesel would need to be completely removed. Pressured by the payment system based on the amount of loads transported, Gross opted to illegally dispose of the fuel.
The Sequence of Dumps
The first dump occurred around 2:01 AM on the shoulder of Route 10 in Brooklyn Park. Less than an hour later, Gross dumped more diesel on the 500 block of Digiulian Boulevard in Glen Burnie. Surveillance camera footage captured the moment when the fuel flowed onto the road, heading towards storm drains.
At 3:13 AM, Gross returned to the shoulder of Route 10 and discarded more diesel before heading to the Motiva terminal, where he refueled the truck with gasoline. In total, he dumped approximately 5,342 gallons of diesel at three different locations.
Environmental Consequences
The damage caused by the dumped diesel was extensively documented by teams from the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). On Digiulian Boulevard, the fuel traveled about 250 meters, flowing into a storm drain that led to a local sediment pond. On Route 10, the diesel contaminated drainage ditches near the highway, affecting neighboring commercial areas.
Soil samples collected from the impacted areas confirmed the presence of petroleum-derived hydrocarbons and diesel organic compounds. These pollutants are highly toxic and can cause long-term damage to the environment.
Additionally, the risk to public health was evident. Adjacent businesses to the impacted areas rely on public water for their supply, but proximity to the disposal sites raised concerns about potential future contaminations.
The Investigation
The Environmental Crimes and Natural Resources Unit of the Maryland Attorney General’s Office, in partnership with the state’s Department of the Environment, conducted the investigation.
The meticulous work included analyzing security camera footage, soil samples, and fuel transport records.
Authorities identified that the truck driver acted with premeditation by choosing isolated locations for the diesel dump. He returned to the same location on Route 10 more than once, indicating that he was aware of the limited immediate impact of his actions.
The Response from Authorities
Attorney General Brown highlighted the work of the teams involved in the case and thanked the collaboration of the Maryland Department of the Environment. He emphasized that the judicial process against Larry Gross serves as a warning to other drivers and companies dealing with hazardous materials.
“Our priority is to protect the environment and ensure that crimes like this do not go unpunished. We will work tirelessly to hold accountable those who violate the laws that protect our natural resources,” Brown said.
The State’s Attorney for Anne Arundel County, Anne Colt Leitess, also contributed to the process by providing legal and logistical support.
Cases like Larry Gross’s highlight the importance of strict environmental oversight policies. Improper disposal of fuels not only affects the immediate environment but also compromises the quality of life in nearby communities.
The environmental damage caused by petroleum compounds can take years to fully mitigate. Therefore, it is essential that both companies and individuals strictly follow protocols for the disposal and transportation of hazardous materials.
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