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 Prosecutors allege that state Representative W. Keith Hall, a
Democrat from eastern Kentucky, paid state government inspector
Kelly Shortridge more than $46,000 between April 2009 to August 2011
to keep him from reporting violations, according to court documents.
Most of the funds were funneled from Hall’s companies to a
consulting firm the two set up under the name of Shortridge’s wife,
prosecutors said.
Prosecutors also allege that Shortridge sent Hall a message late in
2010 saying he would use his position to issue citations if the
lawmaker did not make a payment.
Hall, who was first elected in 2000, lost in a primary election in
May and his term ends at the end of the year. If convicted of the
bribery charge, Hall faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine
and three years of supervised release.
The grand jury charged Shortridge with accepting a bribe, extortion
and making false statements to the FBI. The extortion count carries
a term of up to 20 years in prison.
Neither Hall nor Shortridge was immediately available for comment.
Shortridge resigned from the state's Division of Mine Reclamation
and Enforcement last February, without giving a reason, said
spokesman Dick Brown.
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Hall's companies listed in the indictment include Beech Creek Coal
Co, LLC & HEI Services LLC.
Beach Creek Coal has employed as many as 40 people and has been
cited for numerous safety and environmental violations, according to
the Lexington Herald-Leader, citing state officials.
(Reporting by Steve Bittenbender; Editing by Mary Wisniewski and
Peter Cooney)
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