TUCSON – United States District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson sentenced here today Thomas Young, 62, of Tucson, to 60 months in prison, three years of supervised release to follow and restitution to Southwest Gas in the amount of $245,333.94. Young, who was employed as a welder by Southwest Gas from 1969 until his termination in July 1998 entered a plea of guilty to Destruction of an Energy Facility, on March 26, 2007.

The charges stem from events that occurred between November 2000 and December 2003 wherein Young committed at least 16 acts of sabotage on facilities owned by Southwest Gas Corporation. Investigation revealed that Young, who had intimate knowledge of the gas pipeline system, tampered with valves and other pipeline components, causing pressure changes which led to interruption and impairment of the gas facilities. In one attack committed on November 6, 2000, Young manipulated a regulator station valve, forcing high pressure gas into a low pressure system. This action caused pipes to blow out of the ground, damaged gas meters in thousands of homes, and forced the evacuation of residents.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department with the assistance of the Pinal County Sheriff’s Department, Tucson Police Department, Oro Valley Police Department, Phoenix Police Department and Southwest Gas Corporation. The prosecution was handled by Beverly K. Anderson, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER: CR-05-2041
RELEASE NUMBER: 2007-200 (Young)