SOUTH BEND — Two brothers have pleaded guilty to criminal charges that they illegally transported and stored barrels of paint thinner and then dumped them along the roadside, a violation of federal environmental laws.

After his Osceola-based Midwest Custom Painting business closed in the spring of 2009, owner Robert Rorie moved six 55-gallon drums of the paint thinner to the backyard of his home at 2624 Schumacher Drive in Mishawaka, he admitted in court records.

Rorie had been contracting with a hazardous waste-handling company to lease equipment that properly recycled mineral spirits, but the company repossessed the equipment after he fell behind on his payments.

The company then offered to legally dispose of the barrels at a cost of $225 per barrel.

But to save money, Rorie admitted to dumping three of the barrels alongside the road near Dragoon Trail and Basswood Road, and the other three drums near Kern Road, between Elm and Dogwood roads. The barrels were discovered there in August.

Federal law requires hazardous waste to be stored at the site where it is generated, or disposed of at a facility that has obtained an environmental permit.

The paint thinner was ignitable and contained the toxic methyl ethyl ketone, according to court records.

Robert Rorie's brother, Todd Rorie, who worked at the business, has pleaded guilty to "aiding and abetting" in the crime, since he helped his brother load the barrels onto a trailer for transport to Robert Rorie's home.

The brothers face up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines.