PIKEVILLE, Ky. — A coal company and one of its employees have pleaded guilty to federal charges related to a scheme to falsify coal dust samples at a Floyd County mine.

Black Diamond Coal and certified dust-sampler Walter Perkins appeared in court on Tuesday. Black Diamond pleaded guilty to willful violation of a health and safety standard and filing a false record. Perkins pleaded guilty to knowing violation of a health and safety standard and making false statements to investigators.

They each admitted to their part in a scheme to run coal dust monitors in clean air above ground, instead of in the mine as required

Black Diamond has agreed to pay the government $200,000 in fines and to be placed on probation for two years. Perkins faces up to five years in prison, when he is sentenced at a later date.