News
WV Chemical Spill Co. President Facing Charges
< < Back to wv-chemical-spill-co-president-facing-chargesThe president of a West Virginia company behind a January chemical spill faces bankruptcy fraud, wire fraud and lying under oath charges.
An FBI investigator says in a criminal complaint that Freedom Industries President Gary Southern lied in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Charleston about his role with the company.
The complaint unsealed Monday in U.S. District Court in Charleston says Southern tried to protect his $7.7 million net worth from lawsuits.
It states Southern started May 2009 as chief operating officer, and was on the board of directors from March 2010 to October 2013.
In bankruptcy court, Southern downplayed his role before a December 2013 merger.
A Freedom tank leaked chemicals Jan. 9, spurring a tap-water ban for 300,000 people for several days. Freedom filed for bankruptcy eight days later.