DENVER—A Colorado tire recycler has pleaded guilty to two counts in a case in which the state accused him of filing fraudulent waste tire tonnage reimbursement claims, according to the state attorney general.
Christopher Houtchens, president of Colorado Tire Solutions Inc., pleaded guilty Sept. 5 in Denver County District Court to one count of forgery and one count of possession of a forged instrument. He was sentenced to 10 days in jail and two years' probation.
Mr. Houtchens was ordered to pay $17,189 in reimbursements to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Colorado Tire Solutions must pay a $10,000 fine to the Colorado Environmental Crimes sampling fund.
The indictment against Mr. Houtchens listed six counts, including theft, attempted theft, forgery of a public record, a computer crime to scheme or defraud and two counts of attempting to influence a public servant.
The indictment said that in 2012 Mr. Houtchens filed false or inflated tonnage reimbursement documents with the CDPHE.
Mr. Houtchens also tried to influence CDPHE employees via fraudulent methods into giving him further reimbursements, it said.