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According to the Associated Press, Luke Pugh, 49, and Chad Farrell, 39, are expected to plead guilty in federal court in Elkins March 8. Both were indicted last December; Pugh on 37 charges and Farrell on 30 counts.
Both were accused of making false representations, claiming to be certified for inspections and to work as foremen, even signing off on examinations in record books.
Pugh’s charges are reportedly from 2007, when he worked at the Pleasant Hill mine in Randolph County. Farrell’s charges span a nine-month period between September 2008 and June 2009, when he was on staff at the Poplar Ridge operation in Webster County.
Pugh was also charged with lying to a federal inspector.
The AP quoted assistant attorney general for the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training Elaine Skorich as saying in December that Farrell had voluntarily surrendered his miner’s certification and that Pugh had skipped a hearing and subsequently been suspended.
Pugh and Farrell are facing prison time if found guilty on the December charges.
