Two D.C. inspectors were arrested in a sting for allegedly demanding bribes in order to overlook the illegal dumping of hazardous waste from an apartment near the Southwest Waterfront.
Joe L. Parrish, 51, and Gregory A. Scott, 59, both environmental protection specialists in the District’s Department of Environment, were due in court Friday afternoon to face charges of soliciting and accepting a bribe. They face up to 15 years if convicted.
According to charging documents, Scott visited a 10-story apartment building on the 300 block P Street SW undergoing demolition and renovation work on Aug. 16 and told the manager of the general contractor that he found serious violations concerning improper handling and containment of hazardous asbestos material.
On Aug. 23, Scott returned to the building with his supervisor, Parrish, and explained that the general contractor was facing a $300,000 in fine and jail time, according to documents.
The inspectors said they were willing to “help” the management company, court documents said, but they needed to be “compensated” for their efforts. They’d said they already prepared a report to begin the proceedings for the fines, but they were willing to “burn” their report, documents said.
The manager, who was a cooperating witness for the government, paid a bribe of $2,500 to each man. The transaction was recorded on audio and video tape, proscutors said.
