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E-Recycling Exec Accused Of Dumping Toxic Materials

Authorities alleged that the improperly disposed of components is part of a years-long, multi-million dollar scheme.

Authorities this week arrested an Indiana man and alleged that his electronics recycling businesses improperly disposed of potentially harmful components as part of a years-long, multi-million dollar scheme.

The Chicago Tribune reports that Brian Brundage was charged in federal court Tuesday with five counts of income tax evasion, four counts of mail fraud and two counts of wire fraud.

Brundage, 45, formerly owned Intercon Solutions in Chicago Heights, Ill., and reportedly currently operates EnviroGreen Processing in Gary, Ind. Those companies allegedly told customers, including large companies and government agencies, that their electronics would be recycled "in an environmentally sound manner."

Instead, prosecutors said "thousands of tons" of electronic parts, including glass, batteries and cathode ray tubes, were sent to warehouses, re-sold to companies that illegally shipped them overseas or simply placed into landfills.

The Tribune report also noted that prosecutors questioned Brundage's assets during the hearing. Brundage valued his current assets at $15,500, but a divorce document from early this year listed $811,701.

Chris Gair, Brundage's attorney — who also asked to be relieved from the case during the hearing — said that Intercon's failure contributed to that decline, as did a business partner who "absconded" with $344,003 worth of jewelry.

Brundage was also ordered to surrender his "arsenal" of 10 guns to law enforcement and was prohibited from further e-recycling operations. The court rejected his request that his wife, who prosecutors said was "a 24-year-old woman who just came over to the U.S." from Australia, continue to run the business.

"He is not guilty of the charges and he is looking forward to establishing his innocence in court," Gair told the Tribune following the hearing.

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