Cut Off man charged for dumping diesel

Greg LeBlanc
May 27, 2015
Q&A – Keierica Howard
May 28, 2015
Greg LeBlanc
May 27, 2015
Q&A – Keierica Howard
May 28, 2015

A Cut Off man was sentenced to 10 years in prison after he pled guilty to discharging diesel fuel into state waterways.

Garrett Gilliam, 42, pleaded guilty to illegal discharge of a pollutant into state waterways, theft and criminal damage to property. Judge John E. LeBlanc of the 17th Judicial District Court sentenced Gilliam to three years imprisonment, which is the max a suspect can be given for illegal discharge into state waters.


He was also given 10 years for the theft of the diesel fuel and 10 years for damage to property, as well as being ordered to pay $50,000 in restitution to Lafourche.

The sentences will run concurrently, so Gilliam will serve a total of 10 years in prison.

Gilliam was arrested by Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies on Aug. 26, 2014, for stealing diesel from a gas station in Raceland. After his arrest, the suspect admitted to the crime, while also admitting to discharge some of it into the water to lighten his load.


Lafourche Parish District Attorney Cam Morvant said he supports the sentence, touting that crimes against property and the environment aren’t taken lightly in Lafourche.

“The waterways of Lafourche Parish are sacred and dear to our community,” Morvant said. “They must be protected for the current and future generations.”