In October 2006, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Emergency Response (BER)
was called to a possible environmental crime that had taken place in Tampa’s Ybor City area. On scene,
investigators found that an excessive amount of diesel fuel had been poured into a storm drain located at
34th Street and 7th Avenue.
BER, along with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and City of Tampa stormwater management tracked the
fuel (a red sheen on the water) from the canal that flowed south of the storm drain where the fuel had been
poured all the way into the McKay Bay Preserve. Dead fish floated atop these waterways.
Samples collected from the scene by BER were taken to a lab for analysis and tests confirmed that the
contaminant poured into the storm drain was diesel fuel.
Fortunately, in this case there was a known suspect. A city worker had photographed a man letting fuel drain
from a tank into the storm drain. The suspect was identified as an employee of Cypress Gulf Development, Inc.
After talking to the suspect and his supervisor, DEP, USCG and the Environmental Protection Agency agreed that
federal charges should be filed, and the case became a collective effort of DEP, USCG, and EPA. Federal charges
were sought by the United States Attorneys Office against the corporation of Cypress Gulf Development, and
employees Willie Styers and Joey Driggers.
Final sentencing was held in Federal Court in March 2008. Cypress Gulf Development, Inc., pleaded guilty to a
misdemeanor violation of the Clean Water Act. The company was fined $5,000. In addition, the company paid more
than $21,000 to clean up the diesel fuel in McKay Bay Preserve, a $10,301 fine to the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection and a $3,000 fine to the USCG.
Joey Driggers pleaded guilty to a felony violation of Unlawful Discharge of Pollutant in a Navigable Waterway
of the United States under the Clean Water Act. Driggers was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment.
Willie Styers pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of Negligent Discharge and was sentenced one year probation,
a $2,500 fine and poetic justice—200 hours of community service cleaning up the environment.
