MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A husband and wife allegedly dumped several thousand pounds of solid waste illegally on city property near I-40 and Warford Street, the City of Memphis said Friday.

Tommy Jeans, 34, and Shannon Brown-Jeans, 33, were arrested for aggravated criminal littering and felony vandalism.

Their crime was part of a business scheme, which is common among illegal dumping violators, the city said. The couple advertised their company, Chads Hauling Services, on social media.

“Often private contractors will advertise online or leave flyers on your doorstep offering to haul away your trash, old furniture or yard waste,” Mayor A C Wharton said in a statement. “Unfortunately, they sometimes illegally dump the debris in areas across the city.”

This is the third such case for the Illegal Dumping Task Force, which was established in January. One man, Samuel Jackson, was arrested in June after public tips alerted city officials to the man dumping trash illegally on the side of a road.

Wharton said the task force is conducting surveillance at suspected dumping sites and plans to make more arrests.

“Illegal dumping severely affects the property values in our communities,” Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich said in a statement. “It also presents a public health hazard to our citizens. We have to send a clear message that this will not be tolerated.”

If convicted, the vandalism charge would bring one to six years in jail and up to a $3,000 fine. An aggravated criminal littering conviction would add about a year in jail and a fine of up to $500.

Anyone can report illegal dumping by calling 311 or 636-6500.