United States. Operation Catch-22, a U.S. initiative to stop the illegal trade in ozone-depleting substances, achieved its greatest success with the conviction of another business in Florida for smuggling R22 refrigerant.
The FSD Group, a Florida corporation based in Miami, has been sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay a criminal fine of $100,000 after being convicted of knowingly receiving, buying, selling and facilitating the transportation, concealment and sale of approximately 65,592 kg of R22.
As a special condition of probation, the FSD Group was ordered to implement and enforce a comprehensive Environmental Compliance plan. The company was also sentenced to have $180,051 confiscated, representing income received as a result of the crime and the duties they must pay to U.S. Customs for incorrectly classified goods.
According to court documents, the FSD Group, which also operates under the names Saez Distributors, is an international supplier and distributor of products, systems and equipment and for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigerator, including ozone-depleting substances.
