Two People Sentenced for Selling Illegal Fireworks in Wisconsin
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NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2000
Release # 00-075 		CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052

Two People Sentenced for Selling Illegal Fireworks in Wisconsin

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) played a critical role in the investigation that resulted in two people being sentenced on federal charges involving illegal fireworks in Wisconsin. Two others have already been sentenced.

U.S. District Court Judge Charles N. Clevert sentenced 61-year-old Donald R. Peters, of Green Bay, Wis., and his 34-year-old daughter, Peggy S. Malueg, also of Green Bay, for their role in the illegal sale and transportation of fireworks devices commonly known as quarter-sticks, half-sticks and M-80s. Peters is the owner and operator and Malueg is vice president of Uncle Sam's Fireworks stores in Wisconsin's Washington and Brown counties.

Peters was sentenced to 30 months in prison and fined the maximum fine of $60,000. He also forfeited $300,000 to the federal government as proceeds from his illegal activities. Malueg was sentenced to 8 months in prison and fined $6,000. Both were banned from owning, operating or taking part in any business involved in the sale of fireworks or explosive devices.

"These illegal fireworks are extremely dangerous," said CPSC Chairman Ann Brown. "They can maim and even kill. We are gratified that by imposing these sentences, the court has endorsed our strong stand against the sale of these deadly products."

CPSC sets national safety standards for fireworks. The most dangerous kinds of fireworks, such as M-80s, quarter-sticks and half-sticks, are banned under federal law.

CPSC started the investigation that led to this case after a teenager was killed and two others were seriously injured in separate incidents in Wisconsin involving illegal fireworks. On July 14, 1998, a 17-year-old boy in Shawano County, Wis., was killed by flying shrapnel after detonating an extremely powerful fireworks device commonly known as a quarter-stick in a mailbox. On July 5, 1998, a 37-year-old man in the same area lost several fingers and suffered a ruptured eardrum after another quarter-stick exploded in his hand. On July 4, 1998, a 26-year-old man suffered injuries, including the loss of a finger and a ruptured eardrum, when a half-stick exploded in his hand.

In addition to CPSC, the investigation involved the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Consumer Litigation, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation.

As a result of the initial investigation, law enforcement seized approximately 10,000 quarter-sticks, M-80s and other illegal fireworks from a fireworks establishment in Keshena, Wis., in August 1999. To date, more than 8,000 pounds of illegal fireworks have been seized in Green Bay, Keshena and Appleton, Wis. This includes more than 65,000 quarter-sticks, half-sticks, M-80s and similar devices banned as illegal hazardous substances under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act.

In addition to Peters and Malueg, three others plead guilty to charges involving the manufacture and sale of illegal fireworks resulting from this investigation. Rodney Harris, of Appleton, Wis., plead guilty and was sentenced to 16 months in prison and fined $7,500 in December 1999. Albert Castellano Jr., of Rochester, Ind., plead guilty and was sentenced to 27 months in prison and fined $6,000 in September 1999. Both are barred from operating or taking part in any business involved in the sale of fireworks or explosive devices for 3 years. A third person, Charles Childers, of Appleton, Wis., also plead guilty, but died of natural causes before sentencing.