A former top US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official was indicted yesterday on federal charges alleging she schemed to fraudulently get money from a client who hired her Oceanside company.
Yesterday, Rita Marie Lavelle of Temecula was indicted on one count of wire fraud and two counts of making false statements to FBI agents.
Prosecutors allege Lavelle's Oceanside company, NuTech Enterprises Inc., was working for Los Angeles-based Lemco Corp., which had been ordered by the EPA to remove hazardous waste from its site. In 2000, she allegedly took part in a scheme to get money from a second client, Rialto-based DeNova Environmental Inc., by helping DeNova claim Lemco owed it money.
DeNova owed Lavelle $85,000, the indictment states. But Lavelle agreed to cut the amount to $35,000 if it was paid immediately.
