NEWPORT BEACH

Two Orange County men pleaded guilty Monday to charges that they allowed a welder to repair a gasoline tanker that exploded in a Montebello facility in 1993, killing him. Carl Bradley Johansson, 40, of Newport Beach and George Granados, 50, of Anaheim entered their pleas in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. The two were charged with conspiring to violate and violating regulations barring the repair of gasoline tankers at facilities that do not have permits. Johansson also pleaded guilty to charges that he permitted his drivers to work longer than allowed, then doctored the logs to cover it up, Assistant U.S. Attorney William Carter said. Johansson is the former president of a trucking business that operated under the names Petroleum Delivery Service Ash Inc., Ash Transportation, Atlas Carriers Inc. and Atlas Bulk Inc., Carter said. Granados is the former vice president of fleet operations for Atlas. Between December 1992 and September 1993, the men violated U.S. Transportation Department regulations barring the repair of gasoline tankers in their facilities, Carter said. Johansson and Granados hired a welder to repair the leaking tanker at their Montebello facility. The welder, Leonardo Quintero of Cudahy, was killed Sept. 28, 1993, in an explosion that his torch ignited. Johansson and Granados are expected to be sentenced June 10. Johansson faces up to 15 years in federal prison. Granados faces five years in federal prison.