Thursday, March 24, 2011

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - A federal grand jury in Chattanooga, Tenn., returned a two-count indictment on March 22, 2011, against Matthew David Correll, 31, of Hixson, Tenn., for making false statements. Correll appeared in court earlier today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Lee and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges in the indictment. He was released pending trial, which has been set for May 23, 2011, in U.S. District Court, in Chattanooga, before the Honorable Curtis Collier, U.S. District Court Judge.

The indictment alleges that on or about August 16, 2010, Correll completed paperwork falsely indicating that he had measured cables that were intending to supply energy to safety systems to be constructed in a new nuclear power plant at the Watts Bar Nuclear facility. As alleged in the indictment, Mr. Correll did not take the measurements, nor make the inspections, and falsely completed the forms required by TVA. The indictment also alleges that he did not perform these measurements. Each count concerns a document with false information.

If convicted, Mr. Correll faces a term of maximum term of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and up to three years of supervised release on each count.

U.S. Attorney Bill Killian said, “We always take the falsification of federal records very seriously, especially given the nature of these records at these facilities. Cutting corners on the construction of our nuclear power plants is a serious matter. Our prosecution will be vigorous and thorough.”

This indictment is the result of an investigation by Tennessee Valley Authority Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Brooks will represent the United States.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.