Former Texaco Executive Indicted

The former Texaco Inc. executive who came forward with damaging tapes against himself and other company executives in a racial-discrimination case was indicted on a charge of obstruction of justice. If convicted, Richard Lundwall, 55, former senior coordinator of personnel services of Texaco’s finance department, would face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Last week, Lundwall’s lawyers said prosecutors told them their client would be indicted because plea negotiations had collapsed. The case against Lundwall stems from his own decision to provide evidence against himself and others in the discrimination case against Texaco. In that class-action suit, filed in 1994, a group of black employees alleged that Texaco discriminated against them in promotions and pay. After the tapes were made public, Texaco agreed to settle for $176.1 million. A hearing is set for Tuesday. Although other executives are heard on the tapes, Lundwall has been the only person indicted.