Texas Company Pleads Guilty and Is Sentenced for Environmental Crime First Conviction Under the Plant Protection Act

WASHINGTON—Economy Cash & Carry Inc., pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in El Paso, Texas, to a criminal violation of the Plant Protection Act related to the falsification of a required certificate stamp, the Justice Department and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced.

Previously Michael Sayklay, the former vice president of Economy Cash & Carry, pleaded guilty to a felony charge for falsifying stamps that certified wood pallets were heat-treated to prevent infestation, and were suitable for use in international transportation. In March 2006, Sayklay had the false stamp affixed to Economy Cash & Carry wood pallets, which were used to carry products back and forth across the U.S.-Mexican border.