Due in U.S. District Court with Parnell were two codefendants, his brother and a plant supervisor, additionally found guilty in what experts called the first poisonous food trial of American food processors. Two of his co-defendants also endanger jail: Michael Parnell, the owner’s bro, and Mary Wilkerson, the factory’s quality professional.
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The rich margarine appeared to be equipped in a the making process extract in Blakely, Georgia, as well as having the disorders were actually noted between September one, 2008 and March 31, 2009.
The 2009 salmonella outbreak involving tainted peanut butter sickened more than 714 people and caused nine deaths, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and led to one of the country’s largest food recalls.
Almer has doggedly pursued the Parnell case and food safety issues generally since his mother’s death in 2008. The 61-year-old former CEO who was convicted on 72 counts of fraud, conspiracy and other federal charges could face up to 803 years in prison.
“The Court finds that under the United States Sentencing Guidelines, Michael Parnell’s total offense level is 38 and his sentencing guideline range is 235 to 293 months [19.6 to 24.4 years] imprisonment”.
Federal investigators found a leaky roof, roaches and evidence of rodents, all ingredients for brewing salmonella. Randy Napier, whose 80-year-old mother in Ohio died from salmonella poisoning after she ate contaminated peanut butter from Parnell’s plant, said he plans to testify at the hearing and ask the judge to show little mercy.
The judge has the authority to impose a lighter sentence if he chooses. Prosecutors argued that Parnell and his company cut corners on safety to maximize profits. It helped spur the passage of a tougher food safety law in 2011, which Jeff Almer and other relatives of Minnesota victims helped lobby for.
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Jurors found Parnell knowingly sold tainted peanut butter from his Georgia plant and faked results of lab tests meant to screen for salmonella. Most of those who died in the outbreak were older than 70 or had other health conditions.
