ERIE, Pa. (EYT) — Yesterday a Pleasantville man was sentenced in Erie’s U.S. District Court for making false statements concerning oil wells being in compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act.

In August, Wright pleaded guilty to one count of False Writing or Document to the Government.

Court records indicate 45-year-old Ronald A. Wright, of Pleasantville, was sentenced by United States District Judge David S. Cercone to serve six months in federal prison and pay $236,524.73 restitution.

He must also serve three years supervised release, including 12 months house arrest.

According to court records, the restitution will be paid to his former employer, S&T Services and Supply Inc., of Pleasantville.

Wright falsely claimed he plugged dozens of old Elk County oil wells in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act.

According to court documents, between September 2009 and April 2011, Wright plugged wells, but not to the depth he claimed in the reports filed with the government.

The problem was discovered when fluids unexpectedly came to the surface amid a test of one of the new injection wells, signaling a problem with the plugging procedures of surrounding abandoned wells, according to officials.

Wright had plugged 95 wells in a seven-year period, and all will likely have to be replugged to protect the water supply, officials say.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Environmental Crimes Section, and the U.S. Forest Service’s Law Enforcement and Investigations investigated the case.