Freedom Money Will Go to Creditors Before Fines

Federal prosecutors say they likely will not try to collect any criminal fine that Freedom Industries is ordered to pay unless Freedom is first somehow able to pay off other creditors. The Charleston Gazette-Mail says US Attorneys acting on behalf of the federal government have “no intention of attempting to execute on any judgment of a fine to the detriment of Freedom’s creditors.” The prosecutors filed their sentencing memo as sentencing hearings are set to begin this week for Freedom and six former company officials who have pleaded guilty to water pollution crimes. Freedom faces minimum fines of $7,500 per day of violation as part of its plea agreement.