Lockhart Chemical Company president arrested after Flint River oil spill

Rajinder Singh Minhas, 60, of Rochester, is facing several charges in connection with an oil spill in the Flint River in 2022. 

The president of a chemical processing manufacturer that released thousands of gallons of oil into the Flint River in 2022 has been charged with dozens of felony and misdemeanor offenses. 

Rajinder Singh Minhas ran the Lockhart Chemical Company when it allegedly discharged the oil-chemical mixture over two years ago. The Michigan Attorney General accused him of violating the state's industrial water law before failing to report the chemical release.

The 60-year-old Rochester man was charged with two separate 14-year felonies in addition to over 20 misdemeanors.

"Blatant neglect and disregard of this responsibility cannot be tolerated, and I will continue to make sure those who fail in this duty are met with the full force of the law," Dana Nessel said in a press release.

She announced the charges alongside Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson late Monday morning.

In addition to paying restitution, if Minhas is convicted, he could also spend a year in jail or longer, as well as a $25,000 fine.

"Water is a defining feature in Michigan, integral to public health and a clean environment," said Phil Roos, who runs the environmental department. "We should have little tolerance for those who violate the laws designed to protect them. Thanks to Attorney General Nessel and Sheriff Swanson for holding polluters to account." 

Lockhart was based in Flint where it manufactured a material that prevents rust for the metalworking industry. 

Then on June 15, 2022, the company released 15,000 gallons into the river. An investigation using a process called chemical fingerprinting traced the discharge to Lockhart's facility. 

In September, Nessel ordered the company to stop using its wastewater systems, claiming it was defective. From there, the company was ordered to pump any wastewater offsite, while maintaining a boom in the river to prevent any more discharge from polluting the river.

The company has since filed for bankruptcy.

Minhas faces the following charges:

  • Falsely Altering a Public Record, a 14-year felony; 
  • Uttering and Publishing a False or Altered Public Record, a 14-year felony; 
  • Substantial Endangerment to Public, a 5-year felony;  
  • Discharge of Injurious Substance to Waters of the State, a 2-year felony; 
  • False Statements and Omissions regarding Air Pollution Control, a 1-year misdemeanor; and 
  • General Violations of Air Pollution Control law, punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 for each day violations occur.   

He was also charged with 11 misdemeanor offenses for violating hazardous waste statutes, permits, and other Michigan state rules - as well as nine more misdemeanor charges for breaking the liquid industrial waste law.