Illegal Incinerator Scheme Alleged: Puerto Rico Operators Charged with Violating Clean Air Act
A federal grand jury in San Juan has indicted two individuals and a corporation in connection with an alleged scheme to illegally emit pollutants from a commercial incinerator in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
Ramon Plaza-Gregory, Ileana Cortes-Gonzalez, and Mo-Na-Co Biomedical & Environmental Corp., also known as Monaco, are charged with five violations of the Clean Air Act and conspiracy to violate the law. Authorities say the charges stem from operations at Monaco’s incinerator, which is owned by Plaza-Gregory and operated by both defendants.
According to the indictment, Monaco was authorized to incinerate pathological waste under strict limits on materials and emissions. Beginning in August 2021, prosecutors allege the defendants burned unpermitted materials, operated malfunctioning equipment, and exceeded allowable emissions levels.
After being notified of violations by an Environmental Protection Agency inspector, Plaza-Gregory allegedly shifted operations to weekends and holidays. Officials say the illegal activity continued, with excess emissions documented again in July 2024. In September 2024, the facility’s emissions permit expired and was not renewed, yet the defendants allegedly continued operating the incinerator through at least April 2026.
Federal officials said the actions may have resulted in harmful pollution due to improper and incomplete incineration. Investigators allege the company failed to maintain required records, did not properly track materials being burned, and operated without a functioning temperature gauge.
The Clean Air Act requires facilities to follow permit conditions that limit pollution in order to protect public health and environmental quality.
Plaza-Gregory and Cortes-Gonzalez are scheduled to appear before a U.S. magistrate judge in the District of Puerto Rico for initial proceedings. If convicted, each faces up to five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 per charge. The corporation faces fines of up to $500,000 per charge.
An indictment is an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Protected Waters Violated: Puerto Rico Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Construction in Jobos Bay Reserve
A Puerto Rico man has pleaded guilty to violating federal environmental law after unlawful construction and filling activities in a protected estuarine reserve, federal authorities said.
Orlando Rivera-Alejandro admitted to violating the Clean Water Act for unauthorized development in the Las Mareas area of Salinas, within the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. According to court documents, Rivera-Alejandro placed fill material in Mar Negro, a body of water within federally protected U.S. waters, despite knowing the area’s protected status.
Between January 2020 and March 2022, prosecutors said Rivera-Alejandro built multiple structures on the filled land, including a gazebo and a concrete boat ramp. He also constructed a dock and installed numerous concrete-filled PVC poles in Mar Negro, discharging concrete directly into the water during the process.
Authorities said Rivera-Alejandro did not seek or receive permits for any of the filling or construction activities, which are required under federal law.
Under the terms of a plea agreement, Rivera-Alejandro will pay a $50,000 fine and is required to remove all structures and alterations from the property. He must also carry out remediation efforts to address environmental damage and restore the area to its natural state. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 1.
The Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, established in 1981, is designated to protect wetlands and support research on estuarine ecosystems, while also providing educational and recreational opportunities. The reserve is home to several endangered species, including the brown pelican, peregrine falcon, hawksbill turtle and West Indian manatee.
The case is part of an ongoing federal investigation into the destruction of wetlands in Puerto Rico. Rivera-Alejandro is the sixth person convicted in recent years for illegal construction within the reserve. Others previously sentenced include Luis Enrique Rodríguez-Sánchez in June 2024; Awildo Jiménez-Mercado, Rafael Carballo-Diaz and Nathaniel Hernandez-Claudio in September 2024; and Pedro Luis Bones-Torres in March 2025.
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