Whitefield Man Indicted For Illegal Transportation Of Hazardous Materials

          CONCORD, N.H. – A federal grand jury in the District of New Hampshire has indicted Lewis Scott Niles, 54, of Whitefield, New Hampshire, on four counts of illegal transportation of hazardous materials, reports Acting United States Attorney Donald Feith.

          The indictment alleges that from about September 2013 through about April 2014, Niles sold diesel fuel or fuel oil and a flammable liquid to be used in heating furnaces in his customers’ homes and businesses. Niles is charged with transporting hundreds of gallons of those combustible and flammable liquids without the required placards identifying them as hazardous materials.

          Niles appeared today in the United States District Court in Concord, New Hampshire, for an initial appearance and arraignment hearing. A trial date was scheduled for October 20, 2015. Niles was released on personal recognizance pending his trial.

          If convicted, Niles is facing a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.

          This case was investigated by the Office of the Inspector General for the United States Department of Transportation.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark S. Zuckerman.

          An indictment is merely an allegation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.