Source: http://www.minesafety.com/2014/11/
Timestamp: 2019-04-18 15:00:08+00:00

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Donald Blankenship, former CEO of the now defunct Massey Coal, was charged, in part, with allegedly violating 18 U.S.C. § 371, also known as the “general conspiracy statute.” In this case, the U.S. Attorney claims that Blankenship conspired with others to willfully violate mandatory federal mine safety and health standards at the Upper Big Branch Mine where 29 miners were killed in an underground explosion on April 5, 2010.
The following is from the U.S. Attorneys Criminal Resource Manual on the legal definition and case law relied upon for such a charge.
The operative language is the so-called “defraud clause,” that prohibits conspiracies to defraud the United States.
Hass, 216 U.S. at 479-480.
The general purpose of this part of the statute is to protect governmental functions from frustration and distortion through deceptive practices. Section 371 reaches “any conspiracy for the purpose of impairing, obstructing or defeating the lawful function of any department of Government.” Tanner v. United States, 483 U.S. 107, 128 (1987); see Dennis v. United States, 384 U.S. 855 (1966).
The “defraud part of section 371 criminalizes any willful impairment of a legitimate function of government, whether or not the improper acts or objective are criminal under another statute.” United States v. Tuohey, 867 F.2d 534, 537 (9th Cir. 1989).
The word “defraud” in Section 371 not only reaches financial or property loss through use of a scheme or artifice to defraud but also is designed and intended to protect the integrity of the United States and its agencies, programs and policies. United States v. Burgin, 621 F.2d 1352, 1356 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 1015 (1980); see United States v. Herron, 825 F.2d 50, 57-58 (5th Cir.); United States v. Winkle, 587 F.2d 705, 708 (5th Cir. 1979), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 827 (1979).
Thus, proof that the United States has been defrauded under this statute does not require any showing of monetary or proprietary loss. United States v. Conover, 772 F.2d 765 (11th Cir. 1985), aff’d, sub. nom. Tanner v. United States, 483 U.S. 107 (1987); United States v. Del Toro, 513 F.2d 656 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 826 (1975); United States v. Jacobs, 475 F.2d 270 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 414 U.S. 821 (1973).
Thus, if the defendant and others have engaged in dishonest practices in connection with a program administered by an agency of the Government, it constitutes a fraud on the United States under Section 371. United States v. Gallup, 812 F.2d 1271, 1276 (10th Cir. 1987); Conover, 772 F.2d at 771. In United States v. Hopkins, 916 F.2d 207 (5th Cir. 1990), the defendants’ actions in disguising contributions were designed to evade the Federal Election Commission’s reporting requirements and constituted fraud on the agency under Section 371.
The intent required for a conspiracy to defraud the government is that the defendant possessed the intent (a) to defraud, (b) to make false statements or representations to the government or its agencies in order to obtain property of the government, or that the defendant performed acts or made statements that he/she knew to be false, fraudulent or deceitful to a government agency, which disrupted the functions of the agency or of the government. It is sufficient for the government to prove that the defendant knew the statements were false or fraudulent when made. The government is not required to prove the statements ultimately resulted in any actual loss to the government of any property or funds, only that the defendant’s activities impeded or interfered with legitimate governmental functions. See United States v. Puerto, 730 F.2d 627 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 847 (1984); United States v. Tuohey, 867 F.2d 534 (9th Cir. 1989); United States v. Sprecher, 783 F. Supp. 133, 156 (S.D.N.Y. 1992)(it is sufficient that the defendant engaged in acts that interfered with or obstructed a lawful governmental function by deceit, craft, trickery or by means that were dishonest”), modified on other grounds, 988 F.2d 318 (2d Cir. 1993).
Click here to listen to Judy’s talk about UBB.
Tommy Davis lost his son and nephew in the Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster of April 2010. Now, a judge wants to take away his rights to free speech. We support Tommy Davis and his rights to speak with the press over his heart ache of losing his child. Want to see what Mr. Davis says about Judge Berger’s GAG ORDER? Thank-you WCHSTV. Click here.
Today, U.S. District Court Judge Irene C. Berger issued a gag order in the criminal case of Don Blankenship, who has been indicted on conspiracy and SEC fraud charges by the U.S. Attorneys Office in Charleston.
Mine Safety and Health News will be doing anything it can to fight this order. You cannot suppress people’s First Amendment rights of free speech to people who aren’t parties to the proceedings. If family members want to tell the press stories about their loved ones who bodies were blown apart in the worst mine disaster in the past 40 years of mining in the U.S., so be it. If victims want to shed their tears with the media, so be it. This trial needs to be in the open. It is the only way that Americans can trust the judicial system. I respect that you are a judge, but with no context in this order, an as a member of the press, I cannot let this go unchallenged.
Former Chief Executive Officer of Massey Energy, Donald L. Blankenship, has been indicted under conspiracy charges that he violate mandatory federal mine safety and health standards, conspired to impede federal mine safety officials, made false statements to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and has been charged with securities fraud by the U.S. Attorneys Office in Charleston W.Va.
The 43-page indictment alleges that from about January 1, 2008, through about April 9, 2010, Blankenship conspired to commit and cause routine, willful violations of mandatory federal mine safety and health standards at Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch mine, located in Raleigh County, West Virginia.
The indictment alleges that during this same period of time, Blankenship was part of a conspiracy to impede and hinder federal mine safety officials from carrying out their duties at Upper Big Branch by providing advance warning of federal mine safety inspection activities, so their underground operations could conceal and cover up safety violations that they routinely committed.
The indictment further alleges that after a major, fatal explosion occurred at Upper Big Branch on April 5, 2010, Blankenship made and caused to be made false statements and representations to the SEC concerning Massey Energy’s safety practices prior to the explosion. Additionally, the indictment alleges that, after this explosion, Blankenship made and caused to be made materially false statements and representations, as well as materially misleading omissions, in connection with the purchase and sale of Massey Energy stock.
The four counts charged carry a maximum combined penalty of 31 years’ imprisonment.

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