Dennis Zeedyk
2010 Michigan Ave.
LaPorte, IN 46350
Saturday, March 30, 2024
The Honorable Judge Damon R. Leichty
United States District Court Judge
330 Robert A. Grant Courthouse
204 South Main Street
South Bend, IN 46601
Regarding: United States v. Dennis R. Zeedyk (Case No. 3:22-cr-00085)
Dear Judge Leichty:
As I write to you, I am acutely aware of the impacts my products have had on the lives of my victims and the gravity and seriousness of these proceedings. I am here not as a man seeking absolution through mere words but as one profoundly understanding the impact of his actions.
I offer this letter not solely as an account of my life to accompany my guilty plea. It is a reflection on the decisions that have led to this juncture, which have caused irrevocable harm to others and the community I hold dear. I believe that I owe this Honorable Court and the many people affected by my actions a full accounting of my life.
This is because an apology alone is insufficient; it must be the prelude to more substantial, ongoing acts of contrition and restitution. I deeply regret that my oversight in the production process failed to prevent the introduction of a harmful substance into a product meant to contribute to healthier
lives. I do not lose sight of the bitter irony that my aim to nurture health inadvertently caused the loss of life. I neglected the crucial imperative of ensuring product safety, a neglect that came at the highest cost.
The illegal acts under my responsibility—the sale of tainted ethanol—had consequences so dire they are etched forever in my conscience: three lives were tragically cut short, and eight more were painfully altered. I stand before you, fully cognizant of my role in this catastrophe and the sorrow it has wrought.
As I confront the consequences of my actions, I ask that you consider the totality of my circumstances. I am contrite, remorseful, and committed to writing the wrongs of my past. My sole wish is to make amends for my mistakes and begin the process of atonement.
My loving and supportive family stands committed to helping me return to a law-abiding life. I am committed to being an asset to my community and family by embracing the punishment the Court
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imposes. Besides the empathy I feel for the victims of my crime, I regret how my crimes will impact my children. I want desperately to live as a good parent and lead by example for them, which involves taking ownership of my mistakes.
As I present this context to you, I do not intend to justify my actions but to articulate the circumstances that have shaped my journey. My most sincere hope is that this may serve as a warning to others and an account of how to avoid making decisions that harm others. I accept full responsibility for my choices and am committed to making amends and moving forward with the lessons of my past firmly in mind.
Background:
My life began in Bryan, Ohio, where I learned the virtues of hard work as the oldest sibling on a farm managed by my full-time farmer father. It was a simple, honest existence—demanding but fair.
In 1980, the stability of our home was shaken by my parents’ divorce, with custody granted to my mother. Her lifestyle soon became erratic, often consumed by nightlife, leaving little time or energy for her children. This environment nudged me toward the decision, at the age of 12, to live with my father, a choice driven by a need for the steadiness he embodied.
My health quickly mirrored the internal chaos of that period, a fact evident by my going from 70 to 85 pounds within a mere six weeks after moving out of my mother’s. Not long after, my siblings took the drastic step of cycling 20 miles to our father’s house, seeking refuge. An arrangement with our mother ensued, where she received compensation in the form of child support in exchange for relinquishing her parental responsibilities.
Life continued with my father, who was a consistent presence during those formative years. But at 15, I was confronted with his sudden death due to a farm accident. His passing came shortly after a new marriage, one that left us unprepared for the financial aftermath. His wife, now a widow, inherited a substantial life insurance policy, which she used to acquire the assets of the estate, leaving my siblings and me with virtually nothing but a few tangible memories—his tools, an old farm truck, and some furniture.
For two years following that loss, I managed to live in the farmhouse, holding on to a semblance of the life we had known. Eventually, I moved in with my maternal grandmother, who had maintained a positive relationship with my father throughout the years. There, my siblings and I pooled the college funds set aside by my father, using them to buy a new plot of land and a tractor and some equipment ––as the eldest, I was determined to see my dad’s wishes for his children executed.
Despite these abrupt changes and losses, I consider myself fortunate to have experienced the unshakable love of my father and grandparents. Their influences instilled in me an understanding of the importance of integrity and the impact of one’s contributions to the world.
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Education:
My upbringing on a farm set the stage for a life of diligent study and hard work. In school, I excelled, finding my stride early on. Winning the spelling bee in fifth grade and being a county champion the next year were early indicators of my academic dedication. Participation in activities like the math club and quiz bowl, and as president of our school FFA chapter for two consecutive years and its multitude of judging contests complemented my interests and showcased my aptitude for problem-solving.
This commitment to academia never overshadowed my responsibilities at home. The summers were a time of labor, spent tending to animals and preparing for the county fair, while the rest of the year was a constant balance of schoolwork and farm duties. The lessons were clear and firmly rooted: work hard, try hard, and you will do well.
In 1989, I walked the halls of Fairview High School with aspirations of becoming an agricultural engineer. These dreams, however, were reshaped by the untimely death of my father. My siblings and I doubled down on farming, continuing to grow the farm and exchanging labor with neighbor farms for the use of their equipment.
My journey continued at Ohio State from 1989 to 1993. There, I pursued a Bachelor’s in Agriculture with a focus on agricultural economics. While the first year’s tuition was covered by scholarships, I was determined to be financially independent thereafter. I worked various jobs, from assisting a professor to residential advising, and took on summer employment to pay my way through college. My academic record may not have been flawless, but it was my extracurricular involvement and the breadth of my relationships that led to being recognized as one of the top ten seniors in the College of Agriculture when I graduated.
It was during my sophomore year that I first ventured abroad, participating in a study abroad program in the Dominican Republic. This experience broadened my horizons and deepened my appreciation for agricultural practices beyond the Midwest. The following year, I found myself in the Netherlands through the IFYE exchange program from June to November of 1992. It was during this period of profound introspection that I solidified my desire to attend graduate school, although I always harbored the intention of one day returning to the farm.
In pursuit of further education, I attended the University of Illinois from 1993 to 1995, drawn by its reputation as the leading institution for futures and options research. Here, I took Ph.D.-level classes to expand my understanding of the field. I supported my studies through teaching assistantships and earned a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics, again balancing work and school obligations.
Early Career:
Upon completing my graduate studies, I transitioned to Fort Wayne, Indiana, to start my career as a grain trader. This position was not just a job to me; it represented a return to my roots and an opportunity to apply the knowledge I had painstakingly acquired. The proximity to my family in Hicksville, Ohio, a mere few miles away, anchored me with a sense of home.
The company I joined recognized my potential and offered me an intensive training program. I was eager to learn and accepted the opportunity, which promised future leadership roles. Part of this
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program took me to our headquarters in Florida, where I operated the hedge desk and controlled approximately 1,000 railcars of grain —a crucial step in understanding the industry’s ins and outs.
After returning from Florida, I began to contemplate the road not taken and the chances I had passed up. This reflection ignited a decision to shift my career internationally in 1997. I wanted to travel like I’d done in college. I wanted to find something bigger than myself, so I began searching for relevant job postings and was soon accepted to a position in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
As Assistant Director for Southeast Asia at the US Grains Council, I was tasked with promoting the use of U.S. grains like soy, sorghum, and barley, primarily for swine and poultry feed. My tenure was marked by significant achievements, one of which was convincing the Philippines to substitute highly-taxed corn with nutritionally equivalent sorghum—a move that bolstered U.S. exports and local poultry nutrition.
Here, I began to see the transformative power of the work I was engaged in. I never felt like I was motivated solely by profit; instead, I was drawn by the continuous opportunities for growth––the same ones that had taken me from the Midwest to the other side of the Pacific. But, in Southeast Asia, I got to see the tangible impact our initiatives had on the lives of those around me.
Between 2-year contracts with the US Grains Council, I returned to Ohio for a brief foray running our family’s farm. Seeking to continue work like what I’d done in Asia, I stumbled upon a consulting job listing for a position in Moldova. It was there that I met Mariana, my translator. Our professional relationship developed into a personal connection, and by the year 2000, we had decided to move in together.
Family and Career Growth:
In Moldova, where Mariana was from, traditional values reign. To respect these and solidify our commitment, we married shortly after our decision to cohabitate. In time, our union blessed us with three wonderful children: Thomas, now 21 and exploring his own path in college; our daughter, who at 18 is on the cusp of high school graduation; and Samuel, our energetic 14-year-old in the eighth grade.
Following our marriage, I worked with the International Fertilizer Development Center in Kosovo, a two-year stint funded by USAID. My role was to empower agricultural groups to unite and effectively lobby for access to EU funds for fertilizer—an essential component for post-war development and a direct contributor to social impact. Life in Kosovo had its challenges; sporadic power outages were common, yet we managed to thrive. Mariana adapted socially, and during our time there, our family grew with the conception of our son. For his birth, we chose to return to the States, a decision made for both comfort and familial support.
Next, we relocated to Bosnia through another USAID-funded initiative, where I took on the role of Northeast Branch Manager for the Linking Agricultural Markets to Producers (LAMP) project. With our three-month-old son, we moved from Sarajevo to Tuzla, situated in an industrial heartland. Here, I led efforts that culminated in substantial improvements in the dairy and berry production system. We introduced new raspberry varieties and improved dairy production and quality. The success of this period was not just professional; it was personal. Our life in Bosnia saw my wife’s pregnancy of our daughter, bringing another layer of joy to our growing family.
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Afterward, a job opportunity arose back in Moldova, and we returned for a year and a half. The societal connections we cultivated there proved invaluable for our children’s upbringing, and the proximity to Mariana’s family, particularly her mother, brought immense joy.
Amidst these moves, a new venture caught our attention: the burgeoning biodiesel market in the U.S. My wife and I assembled a business plan, envisioning a production plant in La Porte, Indiana. In 2008, full of hope, we embarked on this entrepreneurial journey. However, as the unpredictable nature of business collided with the Great Recession, our efforts were thwarted before they could truly begin. The facility, a vessel of our dreams and plans, was sold at auction, an abrupt end to a chapter we had only just opened.
With no one hiring in the US, I accepted a one-year position in Tbilisi, Georgia, as an agricultural expert for the USAID/EPI project. My greatest accomplishment was organizing local growers to use hot springs as natural heat sources for greenhouses, replacing imported lettuce, tomatoes, and other vegetables.
Starting Over:
In the face of adversity, my family and I chose resilience. When our initial foray into the biodiesel industry concluded abruptly, we reflected on our strengths and experiences. We recognized our adeptness in managing waste glycerin, a byproduct of biodiesel production, and saw an opportunity. With renewed focus, we decided to harness this expertise into a new venture.
We laid the groundwork for what would become Glycerin Traders, a waste management company initially conceived to service the biodiesel industry but quickly evolving to address a broader market.
We started modestly, securing a few contracts for handling byproducts such as jam for fruit yoghurt, syrup, and barbecue sauce. In time, we bought a bankrupt biodiesel facility in Defiance, OH, and would process the waste glycerin into veg oils for animal feed, methanol to be distilled and returned to the biodiesel plants as a production input and processed glycerin for animal feed, food for microbes in wastewater treatment plants and to be used as a freeze control agent in coal mines during the winter. The methanol was sequestered to one plant due to our capabilities and the need for safety. Strategic decisions, like renting a space with rail access, allowed us to scale up significantly. By 2012, we started our rail transloading capabilities, growing from 65 cars per year in 2012 to 448 cars in 2023, a testament to our logistical capabilities and market demand.
Our team at Glycerin Traders grew to 28 employees, each of whom shared my desire to build a better world by effectively managing and creating use for waste products. A large portion of our team, including trusted leadership, are those with criminal histories. This is a deliberate choice; my social impact-focused work overseas has now translated into creating employment opportunities for individuals facing barriers to entering the workforce.
This organic growth that created these employment opportunities became the cornerstone of our company’s identity. For example, two years ago, we identified a market gap: the need for de packaging excess and expired hand sanitizer. The demand for such services increased as the pandemic waned, and we adapted swiftly. From August 2022 to September 2023, we expanded our
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operations to include handling cardboard, plastic, and hand sanitizer, becoming the largest de packager of this product in the United States.
As our business flourished, so too did my family. Samuel, our youngest, joined our family, bringing with him the joy and challenges of a child with cerebral palsy. While our older children navigated their educational journeys, I remained involved as a member of their school’s parent-teacher association. I also integrated them into our business, knowing that my early experiences on the farm catalyzed my development and that I wanted to offer them the same. Mariana and I also grew into our roles as parents and caretakers for Samuel, a journey that has taught us as much about love and patience as it has about therapy and accessibility.
Offense Conduct:
In pursuit of addressing an emerging need, I found myself involved with a group of individuals passionate about the therapeutic benefits of cannabis, especially for those suffering from chronic neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s and cerebral palsy, who experience seizures and muscle spasms. At the time, society was just beginning to recognize the potential of cannabinoids for therapeutic uses.
Identifying an underserved need in this new market, I purchased non-denatured ethanol from RMS to ensure safe and reliable extraction methods for cannabis products. This endeavor evolved into Ethanol Extraction and the Lake Michigan Distilling Company. Among my employees was an individual with a keen understanding of social media and a belief in the medical benefits of cannabis. Her enthusiasm and technological acumen led me to entrust her with the management of the online sales aspect of the business. I was intrigued by the intricacies of internet marketing, yet this venture was one of many at the time, not the sole focus of my professional endeavors.
However, in 2018, a harrowing call from Massachusetts Poison Control reported a fatality due to methanol poisoning. The news was devastating. We immediately responded by reinforcing our product labels and issuing stark warnings online against ingestion to prevent any further misuse. Yet, two weeks later, we received investigators from the Indiana State Department of Health, who we assisted in accessing records and taking samples of our products. Shortly thereafter, I initiated independent testing, which revealed that unbeknownst to me, our product contained 50% methanol. The shock of this discovery–received prior to notification of results from the State’s testing efforts– was profound and sickening.
Subsequent to this finding, I initiated a shutdown of our operations and voluntarily closed the business. In conjunction with federal regulators, we began a product recall, accompanied by directly mailing statements to each of our customers and posting relevant information on the FDA website. My cooperation was immediate and comprehensive; the tragedy that unfolded was antithetical to everything I believed in and had worked towards.
The public’s safety has always been paramount, and the notion that our product could harm rather than help was unbearable. The government rightly intervened, and approximately five months after learning about the presence of methanol in our product, law enforcement conducted a raid on our
then-shuttered plant and offices. Understanding my culpability in these immeasurable harms, I agreed to cooperate and plead guilty. Confronting the consequences of my actions is both an ethical
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necessity and a moral good that I hope brings some small measure of comfort to the families of those my product hurt.
Reflections:
As I sit to pen these reflections, I come with a heart heavy with the weight of my actions and their devastating consequences. In my pursuit of contributing to the world and creating a sustainable future through the sale of ethanol, my failure in oversight led to a tragic outcome. Illegal acts were committed under my watch—tainted ethanol was sold, and it had grievous results. Three lives were lost, eight others were injured, and it is upon my shoulders that the burden of this harm squarely lies. I acknowledge my culpability without reservation, and I fully grasp the magnitude of my failings.
I understand that an apology, though heartfelt, rings hollow without concrete actions to underpin it. Expressing remorse is not enough; I must dedicate myself to making amends. I owe it to the victims, their families, and the community to engage in tangible and sustained reparative efforts. I make this commitment not just in words but in deeds.
Throughout my career, the aim of creating a positive social impact motivated my professional choices. This focus remained true up to the point of the tainted ethanol’s sale. Yet, the harsh truth is that my intentions were not matched by the diligence required to ensure safety. I take responsibility for this lapse. If I had any inkling of the danger it posed, I would have never allowed my own children at the plant, let alone permit my son to operate the still and bottling process. I understand now, more than ever, the obligation I had to know every facet of the operation—and it’s an obligation I failed to meet.
This tragic experience has imparted lessons that I am compelled to share with others. It’s my intention to educate, to advocate, to prevent anyone from failing in their obligations as I have. There’s a duty we carry to uphold the highest of standards, to guarantee product quality, to secure the safety of all. The industry must evolve, and I am resolved to be a voice in that transformation to ensure such harm is never repeated. In advance of facing my punishment, I’ve sought to develop Glycerin Traders as a leader in this regard with an otherwise unblemished quality record. This doesn’t erase the past––I know that––but I can hopefully contribute to a better, safer future.
I have taken steps toward realizing this goal. Last year, Glycerin Traders was recognized as the BestManufacturer/Wholesaler/Distributor at BizX, an event sponsored by ActionCOACH intended to honor American entrepreneurs. I was also recognized as the Entrepreneur of the Year, though I have work yet to do before I will feel worthy of that award. But, by leveraging these networks, I am beginning to share the story that brings me before this Honorable Court.
I am grateful for the chance to stand before you, Your Honor, to confront my crimes and their ramifications. This is the first step on a long path toward atonement—a journey I undertake with open eyes and a resolve to emerge as someone who has learned from his mistakes and used them to effect change. No matter the sentence you deem appropriate, I accept it with humility.
I am determined to face the repercussions of my actions with a spirit that reflects the lessons I’ve learned, the amends I wish to make, and the commitment to betterment that has characterized my life’s work. The road to redemption is not measured by distance but by the depth of one’s sincerity and the strength of one’s character. I stand before you, ready to walk this road, whatever it may
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bring, and I do so with a spirit tempered by reflection and a will fortified by the desire to do right by those I have wronged.
In closing, I want to express my deepest sympathies to those affected. My thoughts and my resolve to make amends are with them every step of the way. As I brace for the future, I do so with a commitment to emerge from this ordeal as a man who has not only paid his dues but has also contributed to a safer, more conscious industry and world.
Summary:
Your Honor, I ask for mercy in sentencing, though I also understand that I must face the consequences of my actions. I am committed to making things right and doing everything I can to reconcile with society and those affected by my actions.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.
Respectfully submitted,
Dennis Zeedyk
C: (219) 851-6089
E: dzeedyk@hotmail.com
