Guilty Pleas Announced in Adulterated Tomato Products Case

By John R. Fleder, Douglas B. Farquhar & Ricardo Carvajal –   

The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California  (Sacramento) has announced guilty pleas by two individuals for fraudulent activities in connection with their distribution of tomato products.  Allegedly at the direction of her superiors at SK Foods L.P., one individual intentionally shipped products that were adulterated due to excessive mold, and falsified data in corresponding Certificates of Analysis.  She faces up to 3 years in prison.  A second individual employed by Frito-Lay, Inc. received $160,000 in bribes for steering contracts for food products to SK Foods.  He faces up to 20 years in prison.  Sentencing is scheduled for April 28.  There is no allegation that the affected products posed any health hazard to consumers.