
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, May 29, 1994                   TAG: 9405290092
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CHARLESTON, W.VA.                                LENGTH: Short

MAN PLEADS INNOCENT TO EXTORTING VA. BUSINESSES

A Peabody Coal Co. purchasing official pleaded innocent to charges he extorted cash, paid vacations and payments for prostitutes from two Virginia companies.

George C. Rash, 39, of Barrett, Boone County, entered his pleas Thursday in U.S. District Court to 28 counts, including extortion and income-tax evasion.

U.S. Magistrate Jerry Hogg set trial for Aug. 2 in Charleston.

Rash is charged with extorting money and favors from Abbs Valley Electric Co. and Blizzard Industries, both of Bluefield, Va. Blizzard sold coal company equipment to Peabody, and Abbs Valley serviced the equipment.

An indictment alleges that Rash, who purchased equipment and services for Peabody, used his position to extort $24,100 from Abbs Valley between January 1990 and December 1991.

It alleges that Rash forced Abbs Valley to pay for prostitutes for Peabody employees in June 1989 and June 1990.

Rash forced Blizzard to pay for his vacation condominium in Myrtle Beach, S.C., in September 1991, the indictment alleges.

by CNB