All officials responsible for West Virginia's chemical leak are now sentenced over pollution charges. An ex-executive in-charge of a West Virginia chemical tank farm is the last of the six officials sentenced over the chemical spill. Gary Southern will be jailed for a month and was fined $20,000 in federal court in Charleston.
Southern, Ex-Freedom Industries President admitted to his offense claiming he accepts responsibility for his shortcomings and oversights over the West Virginia's chemical leak, Yahoo reported. Southern could be sentenced of up to three years. He pleaded guilty to three pollution charges. During the chemical spill case trial, federal prosecutors claimed that Southern must get more stern punishment than the other officials. The prosecutors believe that the ex-exec was trying to mislead the court by filing bankruptcy to prevent probable financial responsibility after the spill.
"Look guys. It has been an extremely long day. I have trouble talking at the moment. I would appreciate if we could wrap this thing up," Southern, co-founder of Freedom Industries and in-charge of the Elk River facility said during the press conference on Jan. 10, 2014.
Four other officials at the Freedom Industries were sentenced to probation while the other one was also given one month jail term. The company was asked to pay a penalty of $900,000. However, the fine remains symbolic because of the company's liquidation. The company filed bankruptcy eight days following West Virginia's chemical leak incident, The News Center TV reveals. In a separate federal class-action lawsuit, Southern has to pay a fine of $350,000. He could also be sentenced of up to three years.
In January 2014, a corroded Freedom tank spilled thousands of gallons of coal-cleaning chemicals into the water covering nine counties. The incident led to ban of tap water for up to 10 days. Restaurants were closed temporarily while stores and groceries cleared their stock of bottled water, Daily Progress reports. Officials of the Freedom Industries were allegedly aware of the leak for over a decade. As per FBI affidavit, they also knew that there's cracked containment wall that seeps chemicals into the Elk River. No actions were made despite their knowledge of the faulty tanks and leakage.
Southern's Bentley and $7.3 million were seized by the government. His Florida house was also put into a lien. However, with his plea on the West Virginia's chemical leak case, he was able to retrieve his assets back. He will be assigned to a minimum-security facility in Pensacola, Florida.
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