Mitchell Ray Workman, Anhydrous Ammonia Theft, West Virginia 2014

CHARLESTON, WV – A West Virginia man was sentenced in 2014 for his role in a brazen scheme to steal anhydrous ammonia, a hazardous chemical commonly used in methamphetamine production. Mitchell Ray Workman, 34, of Chelyan, Kanawha County, was one of four conspirators involved in the October 2008 theft from a mining waste water treatment site in eastern Kanawha County. The incident triggered a hazardous materials response and a temporary shelter-in-place order for nearby residents.

According to court documents, Workman and his accomplices – Jason Hudnall, John Wesley Tucker, and Jason Brown – targeted a 1000-gallon storage tank containing the anhydrous ammonia. Utilizing tools including a battery-powered saw, they cut the security lock and gained access to the tank. The group then brought portable tanks to the site with the intention of transporting the stolen chemical, intending to use it in the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine. During the process, the conspirators damaged a theft-prevention valve, resulting in a significant leak of the dangerous substance.

Approximately 500 gallons of anhydrous ammonia were released into the air, prompting an immediate emergency response. Fire departments from Belle and Chesapeake, DuPont Chemical Company’s Hazardous Material Team, West Virginia State Police, and employees from Penn-Virginia Resources and Republic Mining all converged on the scene. The Kanawha County Office of Emergency Services issued a shelter-in-place warning for residents in the surrounding area as a precautionary measure. The leak caused substantial financial damage to Penn-Virginia Resources, the owner of the tank, totaling approximately $8,075 in lost ammonia and cleanup costs.

Workman was indicted on November 14, 2012, and subsequently pleaded guilty on January 4, 2013. He received a 30-month prison sentence in April 2013, followed by 36 months of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $6,850 in restitution. His co-conspirators received varying sentences. Hudnall received 84 months, Tucker one year and a $1,000 fine, and Brown three years of supervised release, including a period of home confinement with electronic monitoring. All defendants were collectively responsible for the restitution amount.

Legal Ramifications

The case highlights the severe legal consequences of stealing hazardous materials and the associated environmental and public safety risks. Workman and his associates violated multiple federal statutes, including 21 U.S.C. 846(a)(1) and 21 U.S.C. 846, pertaining to conspiracy to steal substances used in the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine, and 42 U.S.C. 7413(c)(4), relating to the negligent release of hazardous substances into the environment under the Clean Air Act. The penalties reflect the gravity of their actions and the potential for harm caused by the theft and subsequent leak.

Key Facts

• Defendant: Mitchell R. Workman
• Crime: Conspiracy to steal anhydrous ammonia & negligent release
• Location: Eastern Kanawha County, West Virginia
• Year: 2014 (incident occurred in 2008, sentencing in 2013-2014)
• Stolen Substance: Approximately 500 gallons of anhydrous ammonia
• Impact: Hazardous materials response, shelter-in-place order, $8,075 in damages
• Sentencing: Workman received 30 months imprisonment, 36 months supervised release, and $6,850 restitution.

The anhydrous ammonia tank has since been removed from the site, but the case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by the illicit drug trade and the importance of securing hazardous materials to prevent theft and environmental contamination. Authorities continue to monitor and prosecute similar cases to safeguard public health and the environment.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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