Shenandoah County distillery faces environmental violation charges

Maurertown-based Filibuster Distillery LLC and its co-founder, Sid Dilawri, have been indicted on 115 counts of violating State Water Control laws by allegedly dumping more than 40,000 gallons of industrial waste into a Shenandoah County stream, according to the Virginia Office of the Attorney General.

The Shenandoah County distillery, Filibuster Barrels LLC and Dilawri were indicted following a two-year investigation by the Shenandoah County Fire Marshal and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). 

“Not only did this distillery allegedly dump tens of thousands of gallons of industrial waste into a stream, Dilawri also allegedly lied about it to investigators and that will not be tolerated in Virginia,” Attorney General Mark Herring said in a statement. “I want to thank our partners at DEQ and the Shenandoah County Fire Marshal for their help and coordination on this case. I hope these charges will send a message to other businesses that Virginia takes protecting our environment very seriously.”

Neither Filibuster Distillery nor Dilawri could be reached for comment.

Waste dumping primarily occurred during November 2018, according to indictments, but Filibuster continued to dump industrial water with high zinc and copper levels until at least September 2020. According to the Attorney General’s Office, Dilawri initially denied the actions, but then said that there had been a one-time accident at the distillery. Dilawri later admitted he had provided false information to law enforcement and had known about the dumping, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

“DEQ unequivocally values Virginia’s waterways and works with vigor to protect them every day,” DEQ Director David Paylor said in a statement. “Today, DEQ took necessary steps to carry out our mission to protect and improve the environment for the health, well-being and quality of life of all Virginians. With cooperation and support from the Office of the Attorney General, DEQ will continue to hold violators accountable.”

Senior Assistant Attorney General Paul Kugelman and Assistant Attorneys General Chris Bergin and Jerald Hess are handling the case as well as Phillip O. Figura, major crimes and emerging threats chief prosecutor.

Filibuster Distillery was founded in 2013 and distills and sells bourbon, whiskey and gin.

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