Federal charges have been filed against a Michigan man accused of dumping sewage into Lake Michigan while falsely presenting himself as a member of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Authorities say the matter involves contamination in a major freshwater lake and grew out of an investigation that lasted two years.
Here's what to know
According to the Detroit Free Press, 52-year-old Traverse City resident Brent Alan Tompkins was indicted on charges that include falsely acting as a federal officer, displaying a Coast Guard-style insignia without permission, and discharging a pollutant into navigable waters.
Investigators said Tompkins used a vessel bearing markings that resembled those of the Coast Guard and told a mariner in Emmet County that he was a Coast Guard member. Authorities also allege the case involves sewage released into Lake Michigan at White Shoal Light.
Officials said a conviction on the Clean Water Act allegation could bring up to three years in prison, as well as fines starting at $5,000 per day.
More background
The case combines allegations of pollution in a major public waterway with impersonation of a federal service member.
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Sewage discharges can introduce harmful bacteria and other contaminants, putting swimmers, boaters, wildlife, and surrounding ecosystems at risk.
What's being done?
Federal authorities are pursuing criminal charges rather than allowing the conduct and its consequences to be absorbed by the community.
Prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Michigan are handling the case. The investigation was conducted by the Coast Guard Investigative Service and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, the Detroit Free Press reported.
"Reports that Tompkins was polluting Lake Michigan got our attention right away because protecting this national resource is a high priority for my office," U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said, per the Detroit Free Press.
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