Blankenship receives sentence that doesn't add up to his crimes

A former coal mine executive was sentenced Wednesday to a year in prison and a $250,000 fine for his involvement in an explosion that killed 29 workers at a mine in the eastern us state of West Virginia in 2010.

The former Massey Energy chief was given a one-year prison term for his role in a deadly 2010 mine blast that was one of the worst in U.S. history, prosecutors announced Wednesday.

"This sentence is a victory for workers and workplace safety", Carol A. Casto, the acting USA attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, said in a statement after the sentence was handed down. He was also fined $250,000, and after his release from prison will be subject to a year of supervision. The indictment stated that 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" - meaning he would provide advance warning of federal mine safety inspection activities, so the mine's underground operators could hide and cover up safety violations that they routinely committed.

Davis said in the six years since the disaster, Blankenship has never approached him or any of the other victims' loved ones to apologize.

The New York Times reports that before receiving his sentence Blankenship told the court, "My main point is wanting to express sorrow to the families and everyone for what happened".

"Coal mining is a proud West Virginia tradition, but it is not without risks".

Judge Berger ruled that Blankenship abused his position of trust as CEO of Massey and organized criminal activity with five or more people.

Blankenship's attorneys believe he shouldn't have gotten more than a fine and probation, and have promised to appeal. As Mother Jones' Tim Murphy reported in November, UBB averaged one safety violation per day; miners worked in hazardous conditions, like floods and collapsing ceilings; the company used secret codes and radios to foil federal inspectors; and Blankenship himself sent out threatening messages to managers who were concerned about safety. He helped Massey grow into the nation's fourth-largest coal company by revenue, but under his guidance it acquired a reputation for placing profits before people. I don't hug nothing but a damn tombstone.

Prosecutors said he wanted to shore up Massey's stock and his own holdings, which had taken a $3 million hit.

Another investigation into the explosion, this one commissioned by then-West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin (D), concluded that "the explosion was the result of failures of basic safety systems identified and codified to protect the lives of miners".

At Upper Big Branch, four investigations found worn and broken cutting equipment created a spark that ignited accumulations of coal dust and methane gas. They've been doing it a long time. The former Massey Energy CEO, who didn't testify at trial, denied Wednesday that he masterminded a scheme to evade mining regulations and speed-up coal production.