Corey G. JohnsonInvestigative reporter
I was born and raised in Atlanta, GA and I’ve tasted every flavor of professional sports choking known to man. I proudly walked the hills of Florida A&M University, but this is my first time south of Tallahassee. People say they’ve never seen me or Columbo in the same place, at the same time, but hey — let’s not get distracted by rumors. Just know my heart and mind are open. I care about suffering and I chase stories that matter. I’ll listen to folks who’ve been harmed and pushed aside. I adore public servants who believe in the mission but prefer to stay in the background. We at the Times want to connect with you. Hit me up anytime. My lips are sealed.
/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/tbt/6d5d7f2e-981b-4145-90aa-411b34e57346.png "Corey G. Johnson - Investigative reporter")
![Anil Eglais, who was a veteran worker at the Tampa lead factory, had lab tests that indicated signs of possible kidney damage for two years straight. Federal rules required that he receive additional medical care. But Dr. Bruce Bohnker, the medical director at COMBI, did not provide the follow up. After leaving Gopher, Eglais worried about his declining health. He died in an automobile crash in July 2021.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 562 316"/%3E "Anil Eglais, who was a veteran worker at the Tampa lead factory, had lab tests that indicated signs of possible kidney damage for two years straight. Federal rules required that he receive additional medical care. But Dr. Bruce Bohnker, the medical director at COMBI, did not provide the follow up. After leaving Gopher, Eglais worried about his declining health. He died in an automobile crash in July 2021.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/UKKFVLCYPRBMHDEIK7S3YL2PFI.JPG "Anil Eglais, who was a veteran worker at the Tampa lead factory, had lab tests that indicated signs of possible kidney damage for two years straight. Federal rules required that he receive additional medical care. But Dr. Bruce Bohnker, the medical director at COMBI, did not provide the follow up. After leaving Gopher, Eglais worried about his declining health. He died in an automobile crash in July 2021.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/EOJBM4UOMFA3HGSBMMP27ERQKU.jpg "Experts say regulators could take steps to protect workers from the kinds of issues they faced at Gopher Resource.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/YM46SX5ULVBQZJIQISJ3KAUBCI.jpg "The county announced this week that it would run the air-quality monitors around Gopher Resource's Tampa plant on a randomized schedule.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/STVZRMGUANF7PDWZP52GG7AGDM.png "Poisoned, Part 3: The Fallout")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/OJJAC2EVINEMXJETAVP52LRAG4.JPG "Federal regulators on Thursday gave Gopher Resource a \"willful violation\" for exposing workers to inhalation hazards.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/RDVV3QSP7VF6FKRRBCQTAA647A.JPG "Lead dust fills a section of Gopher Resource's Tampa plant. Late this month, Moody's Investors Service downgraded the company's credit rating.")
:format(webP)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/U75NQGGR3ZF2JB3QJ2DNMG5WB4.JPG "Civil rights and personal injury attorney Benjamin Crump (center) and co-counselors announce the filing of a lawsuit against Gopher Resource on behalf of Colin Brown (in headphones). Colin's parents Ko Brown (third from right) and Tomika Brown (second from right) are suing the lead factory, alleging that dust from the plant poisoned their son. Colin's blood-lead levels only subsided after his father, a former factory worker, left the plant. The Wednesday press conference in Tampa was held outside of the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/5PDAHFX55JD4NH46XAHGRBCVLE.png "A collage of videos and images from inside Gopher Resource.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/C5HL34XZQNGCTJLQLO5PRMOPQI.jpg "Photos taken by workers at Gopher Resource in Tampa show a factory plagued with problems.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/OSCXFPDUXVGZBHSKHRHHPFCKLY.JPG "Gopher Resource is seen on Tuesday in Tampa. On Monday regulators with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration began inspecting at the company.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/POTUOGUEORGGJEOZAIYGAUATOY.jpg "Smoke from the Gopher Resource factory can been seen from the playground at Kenly Elementary School in Tampa.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/F2FBXO53L5AC7KRMR7D3ASYPGM.jpg "The Gopher Resource lead smelter is pictured at the end of the street where a single house sits, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021 in Tampa.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/WAOVGLB7DVDJLIOD36FBFZQ2CM.jpg "The County Environmental Protection Commission began its probe of Gopher Resource after a Tampa Bay Times investigation. The commission is proposing a $518,000 fine, after confirming many of the Times' findings.")
![A Josefina Zepeda y su hijo Gustavo Araujo, quienes viven cerca de la planta de plomo de Gopher Resource, les preocupa que la contaminación haya afectado negativamente su salud. [MARTHA ASENCIO-RHINE | Times]](https://www.tampabay.com/resizer//25e8iYWrbxCqjfaz5Tgxs_7CUTc=/200x112/filters:format(webP)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/6ZYR4AICGBG3NJUYSFO5GAV254.jpg "A Josefina Zepeda y su hijo Gustavo Araujo, quienes viven cerca de la planta de plomo de Gopher Resource, les preocupa que la contaminación haya afectado negativamente su salud. [MARTHA ASENCIO-RHINE | Times]")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/H7WIDYZQARFWLKANCERN4HUEWM.JPG "Anil Eglais, 62, watched his health decline after working more than 25 years at Gopher's Tampa lead factory, where he was exposed to poisonous metals including cadmium.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/3Z4QWEFKQVGS5BJMBPWMENCBRM.png "Consultants and workers have documented problems with fumes spilling out from the furnace into the workspace at Gopher Resource for years.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/ZXWXI6ILHREDJM7HUQLSUR4TVI.jpg "Neighbors who live near Gopher Resource, Florida's only lead smelter, showed up for a community meeting at Kenly Park on Wednesday to hear from local leaders. Health officials say they will offer lead testing for local residents. Wednesday, April 21, 2021 in Tampa.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/3Z6ZIE4VSZHBPKHNIOGV3ZASZA.JPG "An aerial view of the Gopher Resource on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 in Tampa.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/AAEIII7A3FAGBM6QDJPZEDCWAI.png "El polvo cubre la maquinaria en 2014, el mismo año en que OSHA inspeccionó la fábrica por última vez en busca de problemas de plomo.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/3OTR7LGN35HOHBDCTTQSE3P3EQ.jpg "A worker inside Gopher Resource passes through a cloud of dust laced with the neurotoxin lead. The factory recycles 50,000 used car batteries a day. It is the only factory of its kind in Florida.")
