“We cannot even touch his 401(k) to withdraw money to survive on without the signature of the Blackjewel mining CEO or his personnel.”
I believe this to be patently false. Unless it isn’t really a 401k. Otherwise the company has no ability to use those funds as they are FBO the account owner.
A loan requires the signature of the plan's trustee -- who is likely to be the CEO of the company.
I am the trustee of my own company's 401(k) plan, and I have to sign twice if I take a loan from the plan: once as the account holder (the "employee") and once as the trustee.