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Federal Criminal Charges Filed Against Two Maryland Men

Release Date: 11/7/2001
Contact Information: Donna Heron, (215) 814-5113

Donna Heron, (215) 814-5113

BALTIMORE – A criminal information was filed in federal court today against Pied Piper Pest Control of Silver Spring, Md. for violating the Clean Water Act and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act.

Also charged was Pied Piper’s owner, Martin Ira Rhode, 47, of Brookville, Md., and company employee, Charles Lewis Thomas III, 49, of Berwyn Heights, Md.

Shortly after the alleged spill of the pesticide Prevail from a company truck in Silver Spring on May 17, 2000, the discharge flowed into a storm drain and eventually made its way into Rock Creek, a free-flowing creek within Rock Creek Park. The discharge killed most of the fish and invertebrates inhabiting approximately eight miles of Rock Creek.

Please see the attached press release from the U.S. Department of Justice for complete details.