In addition to prison time, Gary Griffith, 63, also received three years of supervised release and a $5,000 fine, according to United States Attorney Booth Goodwin. He will pay $250,000 in restitution to Arch.
Griffith pleaded guilty last summer to making a materially false statement in a federal matter, admitting he lied about receiving kickbacks while working at the Logan County, West Virginia, mine.
Specifically, Griffith said he and mine general manager David Runyon received cash kickbacks totaling at least $250,000 from an individual associated with the North American Rebuild Co. (NARCO) since approximately 2002; NARCO provided shuttle cars to Arch Coal’s Ben Creek mine and Mountain Laurel.
“Griffith admitted that an individual, on behalf of NARCO, paid kickbacks to Griffith and Runyon for each shuttle car ordered for the mines,” Goodwin said. “Griffith denied receiving kickbacks when questioned by federal agents.”
The charges stem from a probe by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service and the West Virginia State Police.
