Owner of Gaming Vessel Pleads Guilty

The U.S. Department of Justice has stated that the owner of a gaming vessel based out of Port Aransas, Texas, pleaded guilty in federal court to obstructing a Coast Guard investigation into whether the ship had illegally discharged waste oil and deliberately bypassed its pollution prevention equipment. The ship’s chief engineer also pleaded guilty to making false statements to the Coast Guard regarding existence of tank sounding records and then attempting to destroy the records. Under the terms of the proposed plea agreement, the owner will pay a criminal fine of $300,000 and institute an environmental compliance program. Sentencing is scheduled for April 25. Source: HK Law