Harlan County coal operator pleads guilty in $22M federal tax evasion case
A Harlan County coal company operator pleaded guilty to tax evasion after he is said to have withheld $22 million worth of federal taxes.
John Thomas Quintrell pleaded guilty on Oct. 8 to six federal counts of willful failure to collect or pay over tax , according to online court records.
From September 2018 through April 2025, Quintrell owned Civil LLC, a mining business in Harlan County. As the owner, Quintrell was responsible for withholding taxes from employees’ paychecks, including federal taxes, Medicare and Social Security.
However, for tax years 2019 through 2024, Quintrell did not file on behalf of the coal company, according to his plea agreement.
From Oct. 1, 2019 to March 31, 2025, Quintrell held more than $22 million in federal income taxes and payroll taxes.
The federal plea agreement comes one month after Quintrell was sued in Fayette Circuit Court by Indemnity National Insurance Company.
The insurance company filed the suit in hopes of securing surety for coal reclamation bonds in the amount of more than $17 million.
The company accused Quintrell of unjust enrichment and breach of contract, according to court documents.
For the federal charges, prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed for Quintrell to be sentenced to four years in prison. He will owe more than $22 million in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
A judge will decide the final punishment for Quintrell. A sentencing hearing has not been scheduled.
