Tag: Dennis Farrell

Guilty Plea Hearing Tuesday for W.Va. Executive in Spill

An executive charged in a chemical spill that contaminated West Virginia’s biggest drinking water supply is expected to plead guilty.

Former Freedom Industries executive Dennis Farrell is expected to enter the plea Tuesday morning in Charleston federal court in front of Judge Thomas Johnston.

Farrell faces spill-related federal pollution charges. He could face up to three years in prison if convicted.

The January 2014 spill spurred a ban on using tap water for 300,000 people for up to 10 days.

The bankrupt company and four ex-officials have pleaded guilty to pollution charges.

Ex-Freedom President Gary Southern has a guilty plea hearing scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. He faces bankruptcy fraud and pollution charges.

Another Lawsuit Comes From Chemical Spill

As two last executives are expected to plead guilty this week in a massive chemical spill, statements by one of them are fueling another lawsuit.

A deposition by ex-Freedom Industries executive Dennis Farrell says Eastman Chemical never told him its chemical could corrode tanks.

Farrell said he called to warn West Virginia American Water to close its water pump before chemicals entered the plant. The company didn’t.

A lawsuit by businesses and residents who lacked clean water from the spill cites the comments.

The January 2014 spill from an old Freedom tank in Charleston spurred a tap-water ban for 300,000 people for days.

The water company disputes Farrell’s deposition. Eastman doesn’t think the chemical corroded the tank.

Farrell and ex-Freedom President Gary Southern have guilty plea hearings this week.

Judge Schedules Guilty Plea Hearing for W.Va. Executive in Spill

  A judge has scheduled a guilty plea hearing for the last executive charged in a chemical spill that contaminated West Virginia’s biggest drinking water supply.

In Charleston federal court Wednesday, Judge Thomas Johnston set an Aug. 18 hearing for former Freedom Industries executive Dennis Farrell.

U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin says prosecutors generally file for guilty plea hearings when a defendant has agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge or charges.

Farrell faces spill-related federal pollution charges.

The January 2014 spill spurred a ban on using tap water for 300,000 people for up to 10 days.

The bankrupt company and four ex-officials have pleaded guilty to pollution charges.

Ex-Freedom President Gary Southern has a guilty plea hearing scheduled for Aug. 19. He faces bankruptcy fraud and pollution charges.

Prosecutors Want Guilty Plea Hearing for Chemical Spill Exec

Prosecutors are asking a judge to schedule a guilty plea hearing for the final executive charged in a chemical spill last year.

In Charleston federal court Tuesday, prosecutors filed the request for former Freedom Industries executive Dennis Farrell’s hearing.

In January 2014, a Freedom tank leak in Charleston spurred a tap-water ban for 300,000 people for days. Farrell faces related federal pollution charges.

U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin says prosecutors generally file for guilty plea hearings when a defendant has agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge or charges.

Michael Carey, Farrell’s attorney, was not immediately available for comment.

Four ex-Freedom officials and Freedom itself have pleaded guilty to spill-related pollution violations.

Ex-Freedom president Gary Southern has an Aug. 19 guilty plea hearing. He faces bankruptcy fraud and pollution charges.

Ex-Freedom Industries Officials Indicted on New Charge

Two former Freedom Industries executives have been arraigned on a second superseding indictment stemming from a massive chemical spill last January.The…

Two former Freedom Industries executives have been arraigned on a second superseding indictment stemming from a massive chemical spill last January.

The indictment contains a new charge against former Freedom President Gary Southern dealing with the company’s bankruptcy. It restates original charges against him and former Freedom official Dennis Farrell.

Southern faces an additional count of lying under oath in bankruptcy court. He faces up to 93 years in prison if convicted.

The January spill turned off tap water for 300,000 people for days.

Southern and Farrell entered pleas of not guilty. Both face federal pollution charges. Southern faces additional bankruptcy fraud charges.

They waived court appearances for arraignments Thursday in Charleston federal court.

Four other former Freedom officials and the company itself have pleaded guilty to federal pollution violations.

Conflict Survey for Prosecutors in Freedom Industries Case to be Sealed

Prosecutors are filing sealed responses to a questionnaire aiming to determine if conflicts exist in the criminal case over a massive chemical spill last…

Prosecutors are filing sealed responses to a questionnaire aiming to determine if conflicts exist in the criminal case over a massive chemical spill last year.

In Charleston federal court Tuesday, Judge Thomas Johnston ordered the responses to be sealed. U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin and two subordinates who also lived in the area affected by the spill will fill out the surveys.

The January 2014 Freedom Industries spill in Charleston spurred a tap-water ban for 300,000 residents for days.

Former Freedom officials Gary Southern and Dennis Farrell have pleaded not guilty to pollution charges. Southern also pleaded not guilty to fraud related to Freedom’s bankruptcy case.

Southern and Farrell contend Goodwin’s office should be recused because some of its members were impacted by the spill.

Their trials will be Oct. 6.

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