Dalton business owner pleads guilty to dumping hazardous waste

ROME, Georgia (WDEF) – A northwest Georgia businessman has pleaded guilty to dumping barrels of hazardous waste in our region.

Amin Ali owned Goldstar Investment Group LLC, 7 Days Property Management Inc., and Rock Springs Farming LLC, which included property in Dalton and Rock Spring.

Federal prosecutors say Ali moved 100 drums of chemicals which included hazardous waste from a warehouse in Dalton that was a former chemical company to farm land in Rock Spring.

They were left in an old chicken house and an open trench for burying.  But some of the contents spilled and leaked into the soil.

Investigators tested the soil and found benzene, lead, and chromium. Plus they say the chemicals in the drums were reactive and ignitable.

“Ali disregarded the health and safety of citizens by trying to conceal his illegal dumping,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan.  “He also broke the law regarding the proper handling of hazardous materials.”

He pleaded guilty of disposal of hazardous waste without a permit Wednesday in Federal Court in Rome.

Ali will be sentenced this fall.