Tag: January chemical spill

Former Executive Facing Chemical Spill Charges Opposes Asset Seizure

A former executive facing charges relating to a January chemical spill is opposing prosecutors’ push to seize his house, car and cash.

In a motion Monday in U.S. District Court in Charleston, lawyers for ex-Freedom Industries President Gary Southern say his assets neither helped commit nor were derived from his criminal allegations.

In Southern’s indictment, prosecutors seek to seize his Florida home, 2012 Bentley car and almost $8 million. Southern’s motion says the government already took some assets, including his Bentley.

U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin said the forfeiture allegation rests on firm legal and factual footing.

Southern, five other ex-officials and the company itself face pollution charges. Southern also faces fraud charges related to Freedom’s bankruptcy case.

The chemical spill spurred a tap-water ban for 300,000 people for days.

W.Va. Regulators: Release More Chemical Spill Response Info

State utility regulators are telling a regional water company to make more information public about how it responded to a January chemical spill.

In an order Tuesday, the Public Service Commission told West Virginia American Water that it redacted its filings too heavily.

The commission is investigating whether the water company reacted appropriately to a Jan. 9 spill, which spurred a tap-water ban for 300,000 people for days.

Previously, the commission warned the water company to “use a light hand in redacting its documents.” Tuesday’s order says that before producing records recently, the company even redacted publicly available information, like names of elected officials, corporate officers and the commission’s 1-800 phone number.

The commission is ordering more lightly redacted versions of some records by Jan. 16.

Prosecuters Say Ex-Freedom Industries President A Flight Risk

Federal prosecutors want a former executive charged in a January chemical spill on home confinement with electronic monitoring.

In federal court Thursday, prosecutors requested tougher release conditions for ex-Freedom Industries President Gary Southern.

The motion lists motives to flee. Southern claimed a $16 million net worth in January, then just over $9 million in August.

It says he’s a citizen of the United Kingdomand has minimal West Virginia ties aside from his criminal case.

It says Southern can leave the country on a private plane with his private pilot’s license.

Prosecutors want a daily home call from Southern, no private plane travel and a secured bond.

Southern, Freedom and five other ex-Freedom officials and employees face charges for the spill that tainted 300,000 people’s water for days.

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