A Houston-area trucking company is facing felony charges after investigators say a commercial dump truck illegally unloaded more than 22,000 pounds of dirt at an unauthorized site in southwest Houston.
According to court records, D. Garza F Trucking LLC and its owner, Demetrio Garza-Flores, are charged with state jail felony commercial illegal dumping. Prosecutors allege the dumping occurred on Dec. 3, 2025, in the 9100 block of Fondren Road.
Houston police environmental investigators say a commercial dump truck unloaded a single load of dirt weighing approximately 10 tons at a location that was not a designated waste disposal site and without permission from the landowner. The property is owned by the City of Houston, according to investigators.
The incident was reported by a resident who submitted photographs to police. Investigators say the images showed a green Kenworth dump truck at the site, followed by photos showing the dirt dumped and the truck leaving the area.
Police later identified the truck and traced it to Garza-Flores, who investigators say admitted to being the driver and owner of the vehicle and the trucking company. According to charging documents, Garza-Flores told officers he was contracted by a local pool company and was paid between $25 and $30 per load.
Investigators say Garza-Flores acknowledged choosing the Fondren Road site because it was closer than a landfill and would not require a dumping fee.
Under Texas law, illegally dumping more than 200 pounds or 200 cubic feet of waste for a commercial purpose is a felony offense.
The case remains pending in Harris County court.
Illegal dumping remains a widespread issue across Houston, with city data showing hundreds of reports in recent weeks alone. City leaders say high landfill fees and limited disposal options are among the factors driving people to dump trash along roadsides and in neighborhoods.
To address the issue, Houston is rolling out a new on-demand heavy trash pickup program that allows residents to request scheduled collections through 311. Officials are also considering partnerships with local landfills to make legal disposal more accessible, a move they hope will reduce illegal dumping while improving enforcement efforts