Former Missouri Official Faces Prison Time for Environmental Violations

By Alison Gonzalez

Published on June 20, 2007

Charles Powell, Jr., pleaded guilty Friday to charges that he failed to notify environmental authorities before removing hundreds of feet of asbestos-covered pipes from the Spivey Building in East St. Louis back in 2002.

Asbestos is known to cause asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

According to court papers, the former head of the Democratic Party in East St. Louis and St. Clair County Board member hired a man named Isaiah Newton to renovate the building. Both men knew the building contained asbestos, but didn't notify the Illinois EPA, or garbage haulers that the trash bins sent to Milam Landfill contained asbestos.

Court documents also stated Powell told workers the building did not contain the "dangerous kind" of asbestos, and gave them masks instead of respirators. The workers threw debris out the window and onto Missouri Avenue in an effort to save money on cleanup.

An EPA investigation later showed asbestos debris and dust on the sidewalk and inside the building.

Powell agreed to cooperate with the government in testimony concerning all criminal activity that he knows of in exchange for a reduction in sentence.

Prosecutors will also dismiss several other environmental violation charges he faces during sentences in exchange for his plea.

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