Former Massey Energy C.E.O. Guilty in Deadly Coal Mine Blast

Source: New York Times

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Donald L. Blankenship, a titan of the nation’s coal industry whose approach to business was scrutinized and scorned after 29 workers were killed at the Upper Big Branch mine in 2010, was convicted Thursday of a federal charge of conspiring to violate mine safety that stemmed from the accident, the deadliest in mining in the United States in decades.

The verdict reached by a federal jury here made Mr. Blankenship, 65, the most prominent American coal executive ever convicted of charges connected to the deaths of miners. He was accused of conspiring to violate mine safety regulations, as well as of deceiving investors and regulators; prosecutors secured convictions on one of the three charges. Mr. Blankenship was acquitted of acquitted of making false statements and securities fraud, but still faces prison time.

Although Mr. Blankenship, a former chief executive of the Massey Energy Company, could claim a measure of victory, his lawyers said that they would appeal the verdict, which came after a trial that began with jury selection on Oct. 1. Jurors started deliberations on Nov. 17 after the defense rested its case without presenting any witnesses.

The jury of eight women and four men was not asked to decide directly whether Mr. Blankenship was guilty or not guilty in the deaths of the 29 miners at Upper Big Branch in 2010. Investigators said the deaths occurred after flammable gases that had been allowed to accumulate in the mine exploded.

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Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/04/us/donald-blankenship-massey-energy-upper-big-branch-mine.html