Feds seek plea hearings in Arch Coal kickback case

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Federal prosecutors are seeking plea hearings for 10 men accused of participating in a kickback scheme at an Arch Coal mine in West Virginia.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith George Thomas in Charleston filed the motion Tuesday asking for a hearing at which the men are expected to plead guilty to various charges.

Prosecutors say companies had to pay kickbacks to Arch employees to do business with Arch at its Mountain Laurel mining complex in Logan County. Prosecutors say Arch employees took nearly $2 million in kickbacks from 2007 to 2012.

The investigation links the scheme to former Mountain Laurel general manager David Runyon, who’s charged with extortion.

Three other former Arch employees, along with contractors and vendors, face various charges.

No hearing date was immediately set.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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