(The following story by Curtis Johnson appeared on The Herald-Dispatch website on June 26, 2009.)
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — A grand jury indictment charged three people with conspiring to steal railroad tracks and selling them across state lines.
The thefts tallied an estimated $190,000 loss for Norfolk Southern Railroad Company. The items later were sold for scrap value, according to the indictment. Those charged are Clarence A. Meadows, 65, of Paintsville, Ky.; Thomas G. Hamilton, 41, of Pikeville, Ky.; and C. Roby Meadows, 34, Mt. Sterling, Ky.
The indictment states the alleged conspiracy occurred from July 2004 to November 2004 at or near Kermit, W.Va., near the Wayne-Mingo county line. The men also are charged with two counts of aiding and abetting the transportation of stolen goods across state lines on Aug. 23, 2004, and Sept. 22, 2004.
The trio stole railroad tracks and other track material on those dates, the indictment states. The items were taken from Kermit and transported to Salyersville, Ky. Items stolen Aug. 23 were valued at $9,500, while the Sept. 22 items were valued at $8,400.
The indictment was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court. The grand jury met in Huntington.