Stuart Dotson, Aiding and Abetting Destruction of an Energy Facility, West Virginia 2022

A devastating crime has come to light in Fayette County, West Virginia, where a man has pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the destruction of an energy facility. Stuart Dotson, 56, of Mount Hope, West Virginia, worked with others to steal many pieces of specialized mining equipment from a local mine in 2019.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the thefts forced the mine to shut down for a period of two weeks as the mine was unable to function without the stolen pieces of equipment. The thefts also resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage to the mine.

My office takes the prosecution of mine theft cases very seriously, said United States Attorney Will Thompson. These crimes are devastating to both the victim companies and their employees. I applaud the investigation conducted by the FBI and the West Virginia State Police, and particularly commend First Lieutenant Anthony Perdue of the West Virginia State Police for his tireless work.

Dotson faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on February 2, 2022. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing, with Assistant United States Attorney Kathleen Robeson handling the prosecution.

The case is a stark reminder of the consequences of white-collar crime. The theft of specialized equipment can have far-reaching consequences, not only for the victim company but also for the employees who rely on the facility for their livelihood. We urge anyone with information about similar crimes to come forward and report it to the authorities.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia is committed to protecting the interests of the people of West Virginia. We will continue to work tirelessly to bring those responsible for such crimes to justice.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00182.

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