17 Facts About Rita Lavelle

Rita Marie Lavelle is a United States and California State Republican political figure.

In 1984, Lavelle was convicted on federal charges of perjury related to an investigation into misuse of the United States Environmental Protection Agency's "Superfund" money during her tenure with the agency, and irregularities at the Stringfellow Acid Pits, a major hazardous waste site.

The Rita Lavelle incident was labeled "Sewergate" or "Garbagegate" by the newspapers at the time.

In 2004, Rita Lavelle was convicted again on unrelated federal charges of one count of wire fraud and two counts of making false statements to the FBI.

Rita Lavelle committed these crimes in her NuTECH Enterprises, Inc business of environmental consultation.

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In 1969 Rita Lavelle earned her bachelor's degree in Biology and Mathematics, with a minor in chemistry, from Holy Names University in Oakland, California.

Rita Lavelle continued her graduate work at the University of California, Berkeley in physiological chemistry and stoichiometry.

Rita Lavelle was director of marketing for Intercontinental and Continental Chemical Corporation in Sacramento, California, from 1976 to 1978.

Rita Lavelle's responsibilities included development of corporate guidelines to comply with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, a law that her later position at the EPA left her to administer nationwide compliance with by both business and government sectors.

When Rita Lavelle joined Aerojet-General Corporation, she became director of communications for one subsidiary, Cordova Chemical Co.

Rita Lavelle's position included directing the hazardous waste control program and the $1.

Rita Lavelle had held several positions of responsibility in the California Republican Party, including membership on the executive board of directors of California Federated Republican Women and the Sacramento and Alameda County central committees.

Rita Lavelle was indicted on federal perjury charges after an investigation was launched based on evidence submitted by another EPA employee, whistleblower Hugh Kaufman.

The evidence showed that Rita Lavelle was involved with misuse of the EPA's "Superfund" money during her tenure with the agency, and irregularities at the Stringfellow Acid Pits, a major hazardous waste site.

In 1983, Rita Lavelle was charged with contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions about why she was removed as head of the toxic waster disposal program, but was acquitted at trial.

In 1984, Rita Lavelle was convicted of lying to Congress and served three months of a six-month prison sentence, paid a $10,000 fine and was under probation for five years.

Rita Lavelle was sentenced on January 10,2005 to 15 months in federal prison.