Gary May pleaded guilty to multiple safety violations from inspectors . Gary May is the highest-ranking executive of former mine owner Massey Energy charged in connection with an April 2010 explosion that killed 29 miners . He has agreed to cooperate with federal investigators . The disastrous Big Creek mine disaster in 2010 killed 40 workers . May is the highest - ranking Peabody Energy executive to face charges , prosecutor says .
Gary May pleaded guilty to multiple safety violations from inspectors . He has agreed to cooperate with federal investigators . The disastrous Big Creek mine disaster in 2010 killed 40 workers . May is the highest - ranking Peabody Energy executive to face charges , prosecutor says .