Minuteman Denies Wrongdoing after Raid by Federal and State Authorities

Marie Cusick

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Marie Cusick was the Harrisburg reporter for StateImpact Pennsylvania.

May 30, 2013 | 3:59 PM

A Northumberland County business that was raided by federal and state officials yesterday has issued a statement denying any wrongdoing.
Minuteman Environmental Services in Milton bills itself as an “oil and gas field services” company. It hauls waste and equipment for the natural gas industry.
Agents from the FBI, the state attorney general’s office, Pennsylvania Department of Environment Protection were involved with the raid. They removed boxes of evidence from the company and also searched the home of its owner, Brian Bolus.
According to state campaign finance records, Bolus gave $10,000 to Governor Corbett in 2009 and 2010. Corbett visited the plant in February 2012 and touted it as an “American success story.”
The nature of the investigation remains unclear. Federal and state authorities have repeatedly declined to comment.
WKOK has posted the statement from Minuteman:

For the past eighteen months the Office of the Attorney General has been speaking to former, disgruntled employees of Minuteman Environmental Services, Inc. When we became aware of this activity, we immediately offered, through our attorney, to provide the OAG with any information they wanted. When this offer was not immediately accepted, it was repeated. Both offers were ignored.
Since there has been no wrongdoing, it is not surprising that the OAG’s investigation has disclosed no credible evidence of improper conduct.
Yesterday the OAG conducted simultaneous searches of the home of Brian Bolus, Minuteman’s corporate Headquarters and our branch office in Middletown, PA. The searches were massive; they involved dozens of agents, some in military fatigues, and most carrying weapons.
Karen Bolus, wife of Brian Bolus was handcuffed and placed on the floor next to their eight year old child. At our offices, Minuteman employees were handcuffed ordered out of the building, and forced to sit on the lawn in the heat for at least an hour. A great deal of damage was done to our offices.
However baseless the investigation, however crude the tactics, our company continues to operate as we always have – honestly. We continue to serve our customers and care for our employees. We are deeply grateful for the many expressions of support which we have received from those with whom we do business.