PEDRO GUERRERO, age 57, a citizen of the Phillipines, was sentenced today to a three (3) year term of probation by U. S. District Court Judge Martin L.C. Feldman, for having made a false statement to the Coast Guard, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.

According to the court documents, GUERRERO served as the Chief Engineer of the M/V Polyneos, a Marshal Islands flagged vessel, from June 8, 2011 until on or about October 16, 2011. As the Chief Engineer of the vessel, GUERRERO was responsible managing the vessel’s fuel, lubrication and diesel oils, and for managing the collection and disposal of bilge waste, waste oil, sludge, and other oil residues. GUERRERO was responsible for maintaining the Oil Record Book in which the operation of the vessel’s Oil Water Separator, incinerator, and the disposal of all bilge waste, sludge, and oil residues should have been accurately recorded.

During his time as Chief Engineer of the M/V Polyneos, GUERRERO directed members of the engine room crew to pump the contents of the bilge tank and bilge oil tank directly overboard resulting in oily water and sludge waste going directly into the ocean. GUERRERO did not use, nor did he direct another engine room crew member to use, the vessel’s Oil Water Separator or incinerator to properly process and dispose of bilge waste, sludge, or oil residues. Rather, GUERRERO made false entries in the vessel’s Oil Record Book stating that the incinerator had been used to burn oil waste and sludge to mislead port authorities who may inspect the Oil Record Book.

On or about October 16, 2011, the vessel came into port in the Eastern District of Louisiana, and GUERRERO presented to the United States Coast Guard the false Oil Record Book. GUERRERO also participated in obstructing the Coast Guard’s investigation of the vessel when unable to find the “Daily Sounding Bilge and Sludge” log he told the engine room crew that if one of them found the book he should destroy it. GUERRERO knew that the information in the sounding log was truthful and would contradict the information contained in the vessel’s Oil Record Book.

As part of his sentence, GUERRERO was required to pay a $2,000 fine and not re-enter the United States without the permission of Department of Homeland Security.
The case was investigated by the United States Coast Guard and Environmental Protection Agency. The case was prosecuted by Dorothy Taylor and Emily Greenfield.

 

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