Stewart Parnell, former CEO of Peanut Corporation of America, might be spending the rest of his life behind bars if the prosecutors of the
case get what they want.
The U.S. Probation Office concluded that the scope of Parnell’s crimes--including conspiracy, obstruction of justice and wire fraud-- “results in a life sentence Guidelines range.”
After a two month trial, Parnell was found guilty of knowingly shipping the contaminated products to food processors across the U.S. This is reportedly the first federal felony conviction of its kind in relation to food safety, making it an unprecedented case.
[bold my emphasis]
It has been six years since the story broke that Peanut Corporation of America's CEO Stewart Parnell and his family had allowed salmonella-contaminated peanut products out into the commercial marketplace.
He is accused by federal investigators of intentionally sending into the stream of commerce peanut products contaminated with salmonella bacteria. The government has directly linked Parnell's peanuts to nine deaths and 637 cases of salmonella illness in 44 states and Canada, with thousands more illnesses suspected.
The outbreak, which began in September and continues, has triggered the largest food recall in U.S. history. More than 2,000 products made with Parnell's peanuts have been pulled from stores. The entire peanut industry is suffering, as frightened consumers reject peanut products altogether. The cost of the recall to food manufacturers is in the millions and climbing.
Stewart Parnell, his brother Michael, and the plant's quality control manager Mary Wilkerson were all
convicted last year. While prosecutors are asking for life from Stewart Parnell, they are asking for lower sentences for the other
two defendants:
Parnell--age 61--is scheduled to be sentenced on September 21 by a federal judge in Albany, GA. Although prosecutors are recommending a life sentence, the judge is free to impose a lighter sentence.
A 17 to 21 year sentence was recommended for brother Michael Parnell. Mary Wilkerson--the plant quality control manager--may get 8 to 10 years in prison based on prosecutors’ recommendation.
The amount of money made on food and the important public trust in our food supply make this decision a very important one.
You can read Christian Dem in NC who has followed the story since 2009.