Ontario fines two men $30,000 for illegal sand mining
William Willemsen and Lyndon McCann operated an unlicensed aggregate pit in Southern Ontario, extracting approximately 22,756 tonnes of sand between 2020 and 2023.
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Two Southern Ontario men have been fined a total of $30,000 for unlawfully operating an aggregate pit without a provincial licence.
William Willemsen of Madoc pleaded guilty to unlawfully operating an aggregate pit and was fined $20,000. He has been ordered to rehabilitate the site. Lyndon McCann of Madoc, who was contracted to excavate the sand, pleaded guilty and received a $10,000 fine.
The Ontario Court of Justice heard that staff from the Ministry of Natural Resources discovered the operation during a site inspection in August 2022. Between August 26, 2020, and May 10, 2023, approximately 22,756 tonnes of sand were unlawfully extracted — equivalent to almost 1,340 dump truck loads.
Invoices showed McCann delivered aggregate material to multiple nearby properties under development, generating roughly $30,000 in revenue. Under Ontario's Aggregate Resources Act, all aggregate extraction on public or private land requires a licence or permit.
Justice of the Peace Christopher I. Peltzer heard the case on April 27, 2026, in Belleville. The public can report natural resource violations to the Ministry of Natural Resources TIPS line at 1-877-847-7667 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
By the numbers
How much sand was illegally extracted from the Southern Ontario pit?
Approximately 22,756 tonnes of sand were unlawfully extracted from the aggregate pit between August 26, 2020, and May 10, 2023, equivalent to almost 1,340 dump truck loads.
What were the fines issued to each man?
William Willemsen of Madoc received a $20,000 fine, and Lyndon McCann of Madoc received a $10,000 fine, for a combined total of $30,000.
How much revenue was generated from the illegal sand sales?
The unlawful aggregate extraction generated roughly $30,000 in revenue, based on invoices showing McCann delivered material to multiple nearby properties under development.
