CHARLESTON, WV – A West Virginia man was sentenced in 2013 for his role in a dangerous scheme to steal anhydrous ammonia from a mining wastewater treatment facility in Kanawha County, authorities announced. Mitchell Ray Workman, 34, of Chelyan, was one of four conspirators involved in the theft, which was directly linked to the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine.
The incident, which occurred in October 2008, involved forcibly breaching security on a 1000-gallon storage tank at a Penn-Virginia Resources site. Workman, along with Jason Hudnall, John Wesley Tucker, and Jason Brown, utilized a battery-powered saw to cut the lock and gain access to the hazardous chemical. The group then transferred the anhydrous ammonia into portable tanks, intending to use it as a key ingredient in methamphetamine production. During the process, the conspirators inadvertently damaged a theft-prevention valve, resulting in a significant leak of the highly corrosive substance into the atmosphere.
Approximately 500 gallons of anhydrous ammonia were released, prompting a rapid response from multiple emergency service units, including the Belle and Chesapeake Fire Departments, DuPont Chemical Company’s Hazardous Material Team, the West Virginia State Police, and personnel from Penn-Virginia Resources and Republic Mining. The Kanawha County Office of Emergency Services issued a shelter-in-place order for nearby residents as a precautionary measure. The leak caused substantial financial losses to Penn-Virginia Resources, totaling approximately $1,725 in lost ammonia and $3,325 for cleanup efforts conducted by Mallard Environmental. DuPont Emergency Response Group also incurred around $1,800 in expenses.
Federal prosecutors detailed that Workman’s involvement was integral to the conspiracy. He was indicted on November 14, 2012, and subsequently pleaded guilty on January 4, 2013. On April 3, 2013, Workman received a 30-month prison sentence, followed by 36 months of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $6,850 in restitution to cover the damages caused by the ammonia leak, along with a $125 special assessment.
The investigation revealed a clear connection between the stolen anhydrous ammonia and methamphetamine production, highlighting the dangerous intersection of environmental crimes and drug trafficking. Hudnall received a 84-month sentence, while Tucker was sentenced to one year in prison and a $1,000 fine. Brown received three years of supervised release, including a period of home confinement with electronic monitoring. All defendants were ordered to contribute to the $6,850 restitution.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Mitchell R. Workman
- Crime: Conspiracy to steal anhydrous ammonia for methamphetamine production, negligent release of hazardous substance.
- Location: Kanawha County, West Virginia
- Year: 2014 (Sentencing concluded in 2013 regarding the 2008 incident)
- Statutes Violated: 21 U.S.C. 846(a)(1) – Conspiracy to steal anhydrous ammonia, 21 U.S.C. 846 – Use of chemical to manufacture controlled substances, 42 U.S.C. 7413(c)(4) – Negligent release of hazardous substance.
- Penalties: Workman received 30 months imprisonment, 36 months supervised release, $6,850 restitution, and a $125 special assessment.
- Environmental Impact: Approximately 500 gallons of anhydrous ammonia leaked, prompting a shelter-in-place order and requiring a costly cleanup operation.
The case underscores the EPA’s commitment to prosecuting those who endanger public safety and the environment through the illegal acquisition and use of hazardous chemicals. The stolen anhydrous ammonia not only posed an immediate threat to the health of first responders and nearby residents but also fueled the production of a dangerous and destructive illicit drug.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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