Gary Southern, who served as president of the now-defunct Freedom Industries, leaves federal bankruptcy court earlier this year. Federal authorities charged Southern with bankruptcy fraud, false oath in a bankruptcy case and wire fraud. He faces up to 30 years if convicted.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Eleven months after his company contaminated the drinking water of 300,000 West Virginians, former Freedom Industries President Gary Southern is facing federal charges.
Southern is charged with bankruptcy fraud, false oath in a bankruptcy case and wire fraud, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court Monday. If convicted, he could face up to 30 years in prison.
FBI investigators believe Southern lied in his testimony during bankruptcy hearings surrounding the former Freedom Industries, which was bought by Chemstream Holdings in December 2013, to minimize his involvement with the company and to protect his own assets.
Numerous lawsuits were filed against Freedom Industries in the wake of the Jan. 9 leak causing the company to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Southern, who was named president of the company in December 2013 and was serving as such when the leak occurred, was also sued individually for his role in the disaster.
Southern has a net worth of $7.7 million…
