Organized criminal activities are prosecuted lightly when committed by Florida corporations, whether deaths of five workers near Tampa or 150 deaths of bald eagles in six western states.
No prison for willful wanton recklessness causing the death of five (5) workers at a Tampa electric power plant?
This is maladroit prosecution by the Department that calls itself "Justice."
Many government lawyers go on to represent corporations -- a corrupt "revolving door," or what Ralph Nader called, "the deferred bribe?"
From ClickOrlando.com:
Florida utility gets $500K fine, probation for fatal blast
Tampa Electric Co. sentenced in deadly slag incident
TAMPA, Fla. – A Florida utility has been fined $500,000 and placed on three years’ probation for a 2017 explosion at a coal-fired power plant that killed five workers.
The U.S. Justice Department said in a news release Friday that Tampa Electric Co. also must adhere to a new safety compliance plan. The fine is the maximum allowed for willful Occupational Safety and Health Administration workplace rules violations such as this.
The explosion at TECO's Big Bend plant near Tampa happened when an effort was made using high-pressure water to clear a slag byproduct that accumulates in tanks under the coal-fired furnaces. The workers died and several more were injured when they were sprayed with molten slag that came loose.
The sentencing came after TECO reached a plea agreement with federal prosecutors in which the utility admitted it did not conduct any briefings for employees about the work, including the potential hazards and necessary safety precautions, prosecutors said.
“The department takes this conduct very seriously, and accordingly pursued the maximum remedy available under the law,” said Todd Kim, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division.
The agreement also notes that the company previously reached confidential civil settlements with the families of the victims and others injured by the explosion.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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