REMEMBER THE UPPER BIG BRANCH MINE EXPLOSION?

It happened on April 5, 2010 and killed 29 miners. I recall that one miner said that fines for Massey weren't enough because some people should go to jail for murder. No one has been charged or convicted of murder but some Massey officials have been found guilty of other offenses.

Former Massey Coal Executive Sentenced to Prison
By KRIS MAHER
September 10, 2013, 7:38 p.m. ET
WALL STREET JOURNAL


A former Massey Energy Co. executive was sentenced Tuesday to more than three years in federal prison as part of a criminal probe that was launched after a West Virginia coal-mine explosion killed 29 miners.

David Hughart, 54 years old, a former president of a Massey operating unit, is the highest-ranking former company official charged in the case.

Mr. Hughart admitted in February that he conspired with other Massey officials to warn miners of impending safety inspections and conceal violations such as excessive coal dust.

Mr. Hughart is the third Massey manager to be sentenced to prison as a result of the investigation. A former security chief at Upper Big Branch was convicted of obstruction and lying to federal investigators and sentenced in 2012 to three years in prison. He has maintained his innocence. A former superintendent at the mine pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate safety laws and was sentenced in January to 21 months in prison.