Report: Stars owner Tom Gaglardi found guilty of federal environmental charges
A judge has ruled Dallas Stars owner Tom Gaglardi broke federal environmental laws pertaining to the harmful alteration of a fish habitat, reports Kamloops This Week.
From the weekly newspaper:
The charges stem from riprap destroyed by workers taking orders from Gaglardi in the construction of a boat ramp.
During the trial, former Northland employee Jim Parks said he was ordered to destroy documents and throw his computer hard drive “in the lake” when federal investigators began looking into alleged environmental improprieties at Tom’s Shack.
Gaglardi wrote in his notebook throughout the trial, alternating between notes on the proceedings, Northland business and what appeared to be line combinations for the Dallas Stars. He also had to be told repeatedly by sheriffs to turn off his iPhone, which, at one point, he concealed in a book.
The maximum penalties for harmful alteration of a fish habitat are fines of up to $1 million and/or six months in jail.
Gaglardi is due back in court on Aug. 21 to set a date for sentencing.
A Vancouver-based development mogul, Gaglardi officially took over ownership of the Stars in November of 2011. The lifelong hockey fan also owns the WHL's Kamloops Blazers.
[H/T /r/hockey]