BILLINGS, Mont. - A trucking company and its owner were convicted of more than a dozen federal charges filed after a 2012 explosion destroyed an oil processing plant in eastern Montana.
Woody's Trucking and Donald Wood Jr. of Baker were found guilty Tuesday of conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud, transporting hazardous materials without proper documentation and obstructing an investigation. Sentencing is set for October, The Billings Gazette reported.
Woody's Trucking and Wood Jr. must forfeit nearly $645,000, prosecutors said.
The case began when a Woody's truck hauling natural gas condensate caught fire while a tank was being unloaded at Custom Carbon Processing Inc., a slop oil recycling plant near the town of Wibaux. Three workers were seriously injured, and the fire burned for days.
Woody's Trucking hadn't notified its insurance company it was hauling hazardous materials and did not have insurance coverage for that risk, prosecutors said.
Witnesses testified that Wood Jr. told the truck driver to place a false bill of lading in the burned out truck to cover up the fact the company was hauling natural gas condensate without placards, prosecutors said.
The jury deliberated for three hours before finding the defendants guilty of 13 of the 14 charges against them.
Associated Press
