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PA NEVADA MAN INDICTED FOR FRAUD AND MISUSE OF PESTICIDES

Release Date: 08/09/96
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PA NEVADA MAN INDICTED FOR FRAUD AND MISUSE OF PESTICIDES

FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 1996

NEVADA MAN INDICTED FOR FRAUD
AND MISUSE OF PESTICIDES

On July 30, Carl E. Klene of Las Vegas, Nev., owner of Aquatics Unlimited in New Palestine, Ind., was indicted on three counts of mail fraud and one count of misuse of a pesticide by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. Aquatics Unlimited chemically treated ponds, lakes and other bodies of water to control and eliminate unwanted vegetation and algae growth. According to the charges, Klene, to cut expenses and increase profits, allegedly used a brand of pesticide called "Karmex" which contains duiron, a chemical that is not approved for application to water. The charges further allege that Klene entered into three year contracts with his customers and claimed that only pesticides approved for aquatic use by EPA would be applied. Two applications per year were allegedly made during the contract period. However, by using Karmex, all vegetation was killed during the first application, not just the undesired vegetation. Subsequent applications made by Klene's company under the contract allegedly contained only water, even though customers believed they were paying for the application of an approved pesticide. If convicted of mail fraud, Klene faces a term of up to five years of imprisonment on each count and/or a fine of up to $250,000 on each count. In addition, if convicted of illegal use of a pesticide, Klene faces a term of imprisonment of up to one year and/or a fine of up to $100,000. The case was investigated by EPA's Criminal Investigation Division and the FBI.

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