The probe, which started with the deaths of 29 miners on April 5, 2010,
in an explosion at Massey's Upper Big Branch Mine,
has prompted four convictions, Ward writes. "Hughart is cooperating with prosecutors, having pleaded guilty to
one felony count of conspiracy to defraud the government by thwarting
U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration inspections and one
misdemeanor count of conspiracy to violate MSHA standards. During a plea hearing in February, Hughart had implicated former
Massey CEO Don Blankenship in the conspiracy, and Hughart's family has
said Hughart is being wrongly scapegoated while Blankenship and other
top Massey executives have faced no criminal charges. Blankenship has denied any wrongdoing." Massey no longer exists; it was bought by Alpha Natural Resources.
Former miner Thomas Harrah "was sentenced to 10
months in jail after he admitted to faking a foreman's license when he
performed key mine-safety examinations at the mine between January 2008
and August 2009, and then lied to investigators about his actions," Ward writes. Former Upper Big Branch security director Hughie Elbert
Stover was sentenced to 36 months in jail after he "was convicted of two felonies:
making a false statement and obstructing the government probe of the
mine disaster." And in January, former Upper Big Branch superintendent Gary May was sentenced to
21 months in jail and a $20,000 fine after he pleaded guilty to plotting
to skirt safety rules and cover up the resulting hazards. (Read more)
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