Indiana Fugitive Extradited From Mexico

(CN) - A man who fled to Mexico after being indicted in 2007 for environmental violations and convicted of federal felonies has been extradited to Indiana from Mexico, the Environmental Protection Agency says.

Robert Wainwright, 65, was accused of polluting wetland with steel mill waste from his Lake County company, Sterling Materials Services, in Indiana. He was also found to be unlawfully storing firearms and ammunition in his home, which had been searched by the Northern Indiana Environmental Crime Task Force, the EPA said.

Wainwright is a convicted child molester, according to news reports, and the EPA said that "since Wainwright had a prior felony conviction, his possession of munitions was illegal."

Wainwright fled to Mexico while awaiting sentencing on the federal weapons charges.

Two people saw Wainwright's fugitive listing on the EPA Web site, and anonymously tipped off the EPA Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago, "who worked with Mexican police to make the arrest," the EPA said.

Wainwright faces sentencing on the federal felony weapons charges in Northern Indiana, and a trial for the EPA violations in Lake County Superior Court.

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