On June 24, 2008, the Department of Environmental Quality's Office of Criminal Investigations and the Huron County Sheriff's Department concluded a 5-year investigation into World Waste Services of Almont and Cove Landfill of Bad Axe with the arrest of three individuals. Dominic Campo and Sharon Campo were each charged with multiple counts of Criminal Enterprise-Conducting (racketeering) and Money Laundering-2nd Degree. Stanford Doll was also charged with Criminal Enterprise-Conducting. Racketeering is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. Money Laundering-2nd Degree is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. All three Lapeer County residents either owned or operated World Waste Services or Cove Landfill.

Between 2000 and 2004, World Waste Services and Cove Landfill were permitted by the DEQ to conduct a solid waste business. During the operational period, World Waste Services submitted falsified documents with forged names of governmental officials to the DEQ and Huron County that sparked a cooperative criminal investigation between the DEQ and Huron County Sheriff's Department.

During the investigation, it was learned that the company entered into recycling contracts with municipalities throughout the thumb area. The company then gave the appearance of adhering to the contracts and recycling the waste, only to instead dispose of the material into Cove Landfill, at no cost to them.

Additionally, Dominic and Sharon Campo were taking most of the cash they received at the business and converting it to their own personal use by laundering the money through area casinos.

The Huron County Prosecutor outlined more than 23 alleged criminal acts in a complaint that was filed in the 73-B Judicial District Court in Bad Axe that support the charges of racketeering conducting a criminal enterprise, and money laundering.

Editor's note: DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

"Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan's Future"

Revised July 3, 2008 by Pat Watson