Respond to the following case using the IRAC format.

Attique Ahmad owned the Spin-N-Market, a convenience store and gas station.The... gas pumps were fed by underground tanks, one of which had a leak at its top that allowed water to enter.Ahmad emptied the tank by pumping its contents into a storm drain and a sewer system.Through the storm drain, gasoline flowed into a creek, forcing the city to clean the water.Through the sewer system, gasoline flowed into a sewage treatment plant, forcing the city to evacuate the plant and two nearby schools.Ahmed was charged with discharging a pollutant without a permit, which is a criminal violation of the Clean Water Act.The act provides that a person who "knowingly violates" the act commits a felony.Ahmad claimed that he had believed he was discharging only water.Did Ahmad commit a felony?Why or why not?Discuss fully.[United States v. Ahmad, 101 F3d 386 (5^th Cir. 1996)]