BOISE – Jason Jones, 31, of Boise, Idaho, was sentenced today to two years probation and a $500 fine for the felony offense of submitting false documents to the U.S. Department of Labor Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Jones pleaded guilty to the charge on March 7, 2012.

According to the plea agreement, in June 2011, Jones, the safety officer and trainer for Western Construction, Inc., provided to a federal mine inspector documents purporting that six miners working at a mine in Grandview, Idaho, had received annual refresher training. Jones had forged each of the six miners’ names on the documents. Jones later admitted forging the miners’ signatures on the documents and providing them to the inspector. Federal law requires every miner working in surface sand, gravel, and stone mines to complete eight hours of annual refresher training.

“Mining is an inherently dangerous occupation,” said Olson. “Training plays a big role in preventing fatal and non-fatal accidents and hazards. The court's sentence today recognizes this and sends a message to everyone that cutting corners is unacceptable.”

The case was investigated by Department of Labor Mine Safety and Health Administration.