Glen Burnie Man Convicted of Unlawful Possession of Licensed Radioactive Moisture Density Gauge

BALTIMORE, MD (December 21, 2007) - Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that Simon E. Green, 29, of Glen Road in Glen Burnie was sentenced to one year in jail for possession of a licensed radioactive source without the permission of the licensee. Anne Arundel County District Court Judge Danielle Mosley suspended the sentence, ordered Green to pay a $500 fine and placed him on six months probation. He was also barred from holding any radioactive materials license.

The Campbell Pacific moisture density gauge involved in this case is used to determine the moisture density in soils at construction sites. It contains a type of low level radioactive source that does not pose any threat to the public health or safety, but requires a license to operate.

The gauge was reported missing in September, 2005 by the licensee, Specialized Engineering located in Hanover MD. Nine months later, Green, a former employee returned the gauge. According to Green’s statement in open court, he received anonymous information about the location of the gauge, kept it in a garage for two weeks and then returned it.

These charges follow a joint investigation conducted by the Environmental Crimes Unit of the Office of the Attorney General, the Radioactive Materials Licensing Program of the Maryland Department of the Environment, the Maryland State Police and the Baltimore City Police Department.