HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Federal prosecutors have filed criminal fraud charges against the company that owns a now-shuttered gold mine operation outside Helena.
The U.S. Attorney's Office's case against Drumlummon Gold Corp. and mine safety supervisor Seibert Smith was unsealed Wednesday.
The indictment alleges the company and Smith knowingly made a false statement and representation on a Mine Safety and Health Administration form.
Prosecutors say the company lied when it said in 2013 that an employee was trained to operate a Bobcat 3400XL utility vehicle.
Drumlummon attorney Al Avignone said Friday the employee was trained on the equipment, but the person who filled out the form misremembered when the training happened and entered the wrong date.
Attorneys for the company and Smith entered not guilty pleas during an arraignment on Wednesday.