U.S. Attorney’s Office announces restitution claims to victims of John Rimmasch and Wasatch Railroad Contractors

In July 2022, a federal jury found John Eldon Rimmasch and Wasatch Railroad Contractors guilty of wire fraud and knowing endangerment. The case arose after Wasatch entered a contract to restore a historic railcar owned by the National Park Service. Wasatch failed to complete the restoration, and in the process endangered its employees, contractors, and guests by exposing them to asbestos without proper safety measures. The U.S. Attorney's Office is notifying eligible victims that restitution is now available for medical testing.

After the jury trial concluded, the judge in the case conducted several restitution hearings to determine what compensation should be provided to the identified victims. Because exposure to asbestos can lead to serious asbestos-related health effects, including but not limited to mesothelioma, which may not manifest itself for a long period of time, the Court ordered Mr. Rimmasch to pay money to the Clerk of U.S. District Court to provide medical testing of the victims.

In addition to the funds paid to the Court by Mr. Rimmasch, the U.S. Attorney's Office and Wyoming Workforce Services agreed the victims could apply for workmen's compensation for the medical testing.

On May 7, 2026, letters were mailed to eligible victims notifying them of the available restitution. Several years have passed since the initial restitution notification; therefore, it's possible some victims have moved and the mailing address we have on file is no longer valid. If you received a notification identifying you as an eligible victim and would like instructions on how to file a claim, please contact Vicki Powell at the U.S. Attorney's Office at (307) 772-2124 or email [email protected].

"While no amount of money can undo the harm caused by unlawful asbestos exposure, this restitution process reflects our commitment to ensuring victims receive the medical testing and support ordered by the Court," said U.S. Attorney Darin Smith. "Our office remains dedicated to holding offenders accountable and pursuing every available avenue to secure compensation for those affected by this conduct."