Company president in chemical spill facing charges

Source: AP-Excite

By JONATHAN MATTISE

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The top executive charged in a chemical spill that left 300,000 people without drinking water lied about his role with the company to protect his personal wealth of nearly $8 million from lawsuits, according to an FBI affidavit.

Freedom Industries President Gary Southern repeatedly told investigators he had little to do with the company before it was sold a few weeks prior to the January chemical spill. But an FBI affidavit said Southern had overseen day-to-day operations at the chemical storage company, hired employees and executed contracts for several years, according to a complaint unsealed Monday.

Southern also negotiated the sale in December 2013, including how much money would be set aside to deal with necessary repairs at the site, the complaint said. Investigators discovered holes in tanks, shoddy last-resort containment walls and other deficiencies.

Southern has denied wrongdoing. He was arrested in Florida on Monday and faces charges of bankruptcy fraud, wire fraud and lying under oath. If convicted of all the charges, he faces up to 30 years in prison.

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