Mine inspector gets year in prison for extortion

Mine inspector gets year in prison for extortion

August 25, 2007 3:00 AM
LOUISA, Ky.
A former state inspector has been sentenced to a year in prison.Randall Smith of Greenup pleaded guilty yesterday to a felony extortion charge for trying to solicit a $500 bribe from a mine operator.
Smith formerly worked for the Kentucky Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet.
He was also ordered to pay $150 in court costs and provide 30 hours of community service work.
Prosecutors allege that Smith tried to solicit the bribe from a surface mine operator in Lawrence County last September.
The state agency suspended Smith with pay on the date of the extortion attempt and requested an investigation by the Office of the Inspector General and the Kentucky State Police. He was fired later that month.