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Postville, IA - Prosecutors Filed New Charges Against Rubashkin |
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Postville, IA - Prosecutors have added wire and mail fraud charges to the slew of allegations against former Agriprocessors executive Sholom Rubashkin, according to a seventh federal indictment filed today.
The new, 163-count indictment adds nine mail-fraud charges to the allegations against Rubashkin, and 14 counts of wire fraud.
Prosecutors allege that the former Postville meat-packing executive requested by fax advances on a $35 million bank loan. The requests were based on false information that was sent to the plant’s largest lender, First Bank Capitol of St. Louis, according to the indictment.
Government lawyers also allege that Agriprocessors mailed false financial reports to the bank, in violation of federal law. Each new charge carries a maximum 30-year prison sentence and a $1 million fine if Rubashkin is convicted.
“This is unprecedented,” said Rubashkin’s attorney, Guy Cook. “From Mr. Rubashkin’s perspective, it confirms the overreaching by the government.”
Cook said he will likely ask U.S. District Judge Linda Reade to postpone the trial in light of the new charges. Rubashkin will plead not guilty to the charges, “whether it’s one count or 163 counts,” Cook said.
Bob Teig, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s office, declined to say why prosecutors added the new charges.
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Read Comments (29) — Post Yours »
1
Jul 16, 2009 at 10:26 PM Anonymous Says:
Its time that jewish organizations tell the president to have his AG back off this is becoming a lnyching
2
Jul 16, 2009 at 10:41 PM Anonymous Says:
Perhaps the new owners of Agri should let the state know that they are pulling out of the deal since it is clear Iowa and the Feds have a serious bug someplace which makes it impossible for them to conduct business in the state.
3
Jul 16, 2009 at 11:09 PM Anonymous Says:
I have no truck with the Rubashkins except that they are acheinu bnei yisroel. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. The Feds in the Hicks are really out to get him. Fax a false statement/get 20 years. Puhlease! 90% of Wall Street who did real damage got away scot free. Please all you "powerfull" & *connected* Jewish organizations, do something!
4
Jul 16, 2009 at 11:01 PM Anonymous Says:
enough is enough ,either the stop the "persocution" or we throw the democratic party under the bus .... there is no other case in the entire USA that this is being done - except maybe a terrorist
5
Jul 16, 2009 at 10:49 PM Anonymous Says:
I like the truth! I remember that at the time when rabashkin open their business in iowa and they moved there with a group of people with their families, in that time the whole neighbourhood were very friendly to them, but the group - the new chashidis families - rejected them. It was the right thing to do, because the women were very friendly to them because they didn't know the nature of the new group. But every action has a reaction, and from that point on little by little the hate started to grow and with a short Interval they begin to despise them. So it's a lesson how to behave!
6
Jul 16, 2009 at 10:48 PM JewHunt Says:
Who tells their bank everything when they need a loan? Which bank wants to hear everything, they want to make the loan. I would like to see the loan applications of these prosequtors and judges along with who does their gardens, babysiting, taxes, maintnence work, etc. Its time to play offence.
7
Jul 17, 2009 at 12:04 AM Petition needed Says:
We need to start a website and have people sign petitions, this is a joke more than 100 counts is not enough? They are clearly biased let's stop it
8
Jul 17, 2009 at 12:11 AM Stop Playing the Victim Says:
“ Who tells their bank everything when they need a loan? Which bank wants to hear everything, they want to make the loan. I would like to see the loan applications of these prosequtors and judges along with who does their gardens, babysiting, taxes, maintnence work, etc. Its time to play offence. ”
Ehrliche Yidden do. I'm not sure what you consider yourself, but it's not an ehrliche Jew in my book, and I'm pretty sure not in Hashem's book either.
9
Jul 16, 2009 at 11:52 PM Charlie Hall Says:
“ Its time that jewish organizations tell the president to have his AG back off this is becoming a lnyching ”
No, the last thing we need is more political involvement. The fact that the local congressman (a conservative Republican) was cheering on the raid was bad enough.
10
Jul 16, 2009 at 11:52 PM Charlie Hall Says:
“ Who tells their bank everything when they need a loan? Which bank wants to hear everything, they want to make the loan. I would like to see the loan applications of these prosequtors and judges along with who does their gardens, babysiting, taxes, maintnence work, etc. Its time to play offence. ”
Sorry, but lying on a loan application is both halachically asur and a criminal offense under secular law.
11
Jul 16, 2009 at 11:45 PM Anonymous Says:
A desperate witch hunt
12
Jul 17, 2009 at 12:24 AM Anonymous Says:
The prosecution started under the Republican guard. Unfortunately the Democrats are more likely to support the unions that are behind this attack, and PETA a democratic pro (animal life) organization. Say lots of Tehillim!!!
13
Jul 17, 2009 at 01:33 AM Anonymous Says:
It is time for jews to take responsibility for their sins. Instead of an 'asifah' and 'tehilim groups'... simply admit the truth. Better yet, don't do the crime in the first place. Where is the rabbinic leadership on this?
14
Jul 17, 2009 at 06:11 AM professor Says:
walk by any non-jewish large business you will see illegals working. this was not anti-semitic but anti-carnivorous. political pressure from the likes of peta started this whole thing. if you dig deep enough into the practices of most major successful companies, you will find some shady practices. yes, it iswrong to cheat on loan applications, but burried in the hundreds of questions on most loan applications, there are often a few things that are fudged. this is a lynching! how else do you go from immigration charges to loan fraud?
15
Jul 17, 2009 at 07:04 AM Anonymous Says:
“ I like the truth! I remember that at the time when rabashkin open their business in iowa and they moved there with a group of people with their families, in that time the whole neighbourhood were very friendly to them, but the group - the new chashidis families - rejected them. It was the right thing to do, because the women were very friendly to them because they didn't know the nature of the new group. But every action has a reaction, and from that point on little by little the hate started to grow and with a short Interval they begin to despise them. So it's a lesson how to behave! ”
Wow, that's very thoughtfull of you. Your right maybe that should have invited the AG's office to kiddush
16
Jul 17, 2009 at 07:12 AM Anonymous Says:
“ I like the truth! I remember that at the time when rabashkin open their business in iowa and they moved there with a group of people with their families, in that time the whole neighbourhood were very friendly to them, but the group - the new chashidis families - rejected them. It was the right thing to do, because the women were very friendly to them because they didn't know the nature of the new group. But every action has a reaction, and from that point on little by little the hate started to grow and with a short Interval they begin to despise them. So it's a lesson how to behave! ”
Right, we should assimilate so they'll love us like they did in Germany.
17
Jul 17, 2009 at 06:49 AM Anonymous Says:
“ Who tells their bank everything when they need a loan? Which bank wants to hear everything, they want to make the loan. I would like to see the loan applications of these prosequtors and judges along with who does their gardens, babysiting, taxes, maintnence work, etc. Its time to play offence. ”
Your paranoia that "all the goyim are out to get us" is both amusing and scary. This guy is alleged to have LIED in a sworn statement submitted in support of a loan application and continuing draws on his bank lines. If true, those are felonies that both yiddin and goyim go to jail for all the time. What frustrates me about this case is the way that BOTH sides are dragging it out (Rubashkin's lawyers have asked for delays for every possible reason including yom tomivm, time to prepare for new charges, separate trials on labor and bank charges etc). All this does is keep the issue of this whole affair in the news week after week.
18
Jul 17, 2009 at 07:23 AM matzahlocal101 Says:
"The kosher slaughterhouse was the site of a major immigration raid in May 2008, when federal agents arrested 389 illegal immigrant workers from Mexico, Guatemala and other impoverished nations."
But unlike the raid on Swift Beef and Pork on Dec12, 2006 which netted almost 1300 illegals, the illegals were not charged criminally they were simply deported and no criminal charges were files against the corporation or the officers.
like wise the in the IFCO raid of May 2006 which also netted almost 1300 illegals, the corporation agreed to pay 2.7 million dollars in back overtime wages but were not charged with laboror immigrations violations. Likewise the corporation paid a large fine but was not charged with any criminal wrongdoing, and no executives were charged. It's a bad sign when Jews are treated differently from others that have done the same and worse. Regarding those that attack Rubashkin for "Falsifying" loan documents, keep in mind that he was doing business for 20 years, he did millions of dollars of business on a handshake and he had at least a 35 million dollar credit limit. It id highly unlikely that after doing business for 20 years he decided to rip off a bank for 35 million dollars. Try to be intelligent and donot draw a parallel to Madoff, because Madoff never did business honestly.
19
Jul 17, 2009 at 08:19 AM Anonymous Says:
“ "The kosher slaughterhouse was the site of a major immigration raid in May 2008, when federal agents arrested 389 illegal immigrant workers from Mexico, Guatemala and other impoverished nations."
But unlike the raid on Swift Beef and Pork on Dec12, 2006 which netted almost 1300 illegals, the illegals were not charged criminally they were simply deported and no criminal charges were files against the corporation or the officers.
like wise the in the IFCO raid of May 2006 which also netted almost 1300 illegals, the corporation agreed to pay 2.7 million dollars in back overtime wages but were not charged with laboror immigrations violations. Likewise the corporation paid a large fine but was not charged with any criminal wrongdoing, and no executives were charged. It's a bad sign when Jews are treated differently from others that have done the same and worse. Regarding those that attack Rubashkin for "Falsifying" loan documents, keep in mind that he was doing business for 20 years, he did millions of dollars of business on a handshake and he had at least a 35 million dollar credit limit. It id highly unlikely that after doing business for 20 years he decided to rip off a bank for 35 million dollars. Try to be intelligent and donot draw a parallel to Madoff, because Madoff never did business honestly. ”
So he must be innocent since he doesn't seem to have ripped off the banks by as much money as Madoff or didn't hire as many illegal works as Swift Beef?? That is a remarkable benchmark for judging yidden whom other posters claim is an ehreleche yid being persecuted by an antisemitic judge, U.S. attorney and etc. Other posters say lying to the bank is no big deal since all yiddin lie on loan applications. Mi kamocha yisroel???
20
Jul 17, 2009 at 08:32 AM NY Says:
“ Perhaps the new owners of Agri should let the state know that they are pulling out of the deal since it is clear Iowa and the Feds have a serious bug someplace which makes it impossible for them to conduct business in the state. ”
I think that you are right. That town deserves to become a ghost town when all the employees and their families move away. I would be worried about running a business there.
#18 gave the facts, and there are many more examples of immigration violations that did not result in witch hunts.
And if you say the money issue justifies the witch hunt, what about the very big corporations that put the USA into a reccession? No witch hunt there! They all just nicely say "I'm sorry" and the gvt quietly makes a deal with these multi millionaire executives.
21
Jul 17, 2009 at 09:44 AM Anonymous Says:
according to the torah a ganef only has to pay back what he stole ganuvim dont recieve jail time
22
Jul 17, 2009 at 10:15 AM Duties of the Heart, Gate of Trust Says:
Rabbi Shalom Mordechai ben Rivka HaLevi Rubashkin will be acquitted on all charges and subsequently will sue the U.S. Government and win.
The Gentiles do NOT understand who they are dealing with.
24
Jul 17, 2009 at 11:09 AM Hate em Tatem Says:
“This is unprecedented,” said Rubashkin’s attorney, Guy Cook. “From Mr. Rubashkin’s perspective, it confirms the overreaching by the government.”
Absolutely. Just wondering, when these Midwest companies like Zimmer commit corporate crimes far worse than Rubashkin, the US Attorney offers them a deferred prosecution agreement so the company will not go under. Remember, if the company goes under then the people lose their jobs and the whole industry suffers. In that case, the industry was artificial knee and hip replacements.
In this situation, the financially strapped town of Postville, with its major employer biting the dust, is told where to go. The feds did not offer Aggri a deferred prosecution agreement to save jobs and the local economy. In addition, the whole industry has suffered. Checked out prices by your local butcher?
It seems to be selective prosecution, even if some of the charges are legitimate. Interesting how the US Attorney's office in Iowa is spending all this money on Aggri.
#10, thanks for letting us know. However, why the selective prosecution and disregard for kosher consumers?
25
Jul 17, 2009 at 12:04 PM Charlie Hall Says:
“ “This is unprecedented,” said Rubashkin’s attorney, Guy Cook. “From Mr. Rubashkin’s perspective, it confirms the overreaching by the government.”
Absolutely. Just wondering, when these Midwest companies like Zimmer commit corporate crimes far worse than Rubashkin, the US Attorney offers them a deferred prosecution agreement so the company will not go under. Remember, if the company goes under then the people lose their jobs and the whole industry suffers. In that case, the industry was artificial knee and hip replacements.
In this situation, the financially strapped town of Postville, with its major employer biting the dust, is told where to go. The feds did not offer Aggri a deferred prosecution agreement to save jobs and the local economy. In addition, the whole industry has suffered. Checked out prices by your local butcher?
It seems to be selective prosecution, even if some of the charges are legitimate. Interesting how the US Attorney's office in Iowa is spending all this money on Aggri.
#10, thanks for letting us know. However, why the selective prosecution and disregard for kosher consumers? ”
It is a good question as to why Agriprocessors was the first major slaughterhouse to have such a public raid. I have two theories regarding what you say is a selective prosecution:
(1) The local congressman, Steve King, is a right wing Republican who rants and raves about illegal immigration all the time. He cheered on the raid when it happened. CIS could not avoid paying attention to him, especially when the Republicans were still in control in Washington. (Ironically, The Rubashkin family were reported on this site to have made campaign contributions to Republicans in the past.)
(2) Agriprocessors had admitted hiring illegal immigrants at a different plant, and then had the chutzpah to try to argue (against all legal precedent) that it could use the fact that the employees were illegal to deny them their rights under labor law. First the National Labor Relations Board, and then a Federal Appeals Court, slapped Agriprocessors down, and the US Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal. This along with hundreds of notices over a period of years that the paperwork for many of their employees was not in order that appear to have been ignored by Agriprocessors would certainly have come to the attention of CIS.
I'm not so sure that there is a disregard for kosher consumers. ConAgra's *Hebrew National* continues in operation and is much larger; the government doesn't know the difference between OU and Triangle-K. And we can ask ourselves how we allowed a single company to have such a large fraction of the glatt kosher market, placing it at risk of a single failure. (Did the large scale hiring of illegal immigrants give Agriprocessors a cost advantage over its competitors? If so, that might be halachically problematic.)
26
Jul 17, 2009 at 04:56 PM . Says:
“ Rabbi Shalom Mordechai ben Rivka HaLevi Rubashkin will be acquitted on all charges and subsequently will sue the U.S. Government and win.
The Gentiles do NOT understand who they are dealing with. ”
I really do not understand. The Alter Rebbe said that he will see moshiach in his time. The people living 50 years ago will see him; he is around the corner.
The current people seemed to ignore that and banked their money on the seventh Rebbe. Now that the Rebbe was niftar, they looked to the Torah for more proofs that their opinion was still right and the rest of Yiddishkeit and Klal Yisroel was wrong.
Moshiach will come when Moshiach will come. Period. You cannot blatantly claim that he is not coming because of this person or that person's perceived sinas chinam.
Which brings me to my point. The Gentiles do not understand who they are dealing with??? Whom are you refering to - Hashem or Rubashkin? Hashem is not a 'with'. And Rubashkin has no powers. The mere fact that the family are a baal chessed (my dikduk is off) did not save his brother from doing really bad stuff and admitting it AND going to jail. Twice. .
Do not use the title 'RABBI' before his name. He is a disgrace to us all and calling him a respected title makes the 'gentiles' think that he is revered, someone to emulate, someone to learn from.
We do not need you for a navi sheker. We have enough problems without you
27
Jul 17, 2009 at 05:20 PM Anonymous Says:
“ I really do not understand. The Alter Rebbe said that he will see moshiach in his time. The people living 50 years ago will see him; he is around the corner.
The current people seemed to ignore that and banked their money on the seventh Rebbe. Now that the Rebbe was niftar, they looked to the Torah for more proofs that their opinion was still right and the rest of Yiddishkeit and Klal Yisroel was wrong.
Moshiach will come when Moshiach will come. Period. You cannot blatantly claim that he is not coming because of this person or that person's perceived sinas chinam.
Which brings me to my point. The Gentiles do not understand who they are dealing with??? Whom are you refering to - Hashem or Rubashkin? Hashem is not a 'with'. And Rubashkin has no powers. The mere fact that the family are a baal chessed (my dikduk is off) did not save his brother from doing really bad stuff and admitting it AND going to jail. Twice. .
Do not use the title 'RABBI' before his name. He is a disgrace to us all and calling him a respected title makes the 'gentiles' think that he is revered, someone to emulate, someone to learn from.
We do not need you for a navi sheker. We have enough problems without you ”
I basically would agree with your analyses off poster #22, it is obvious from his post that he thinks that he has a direct line to Hashem, and therefore his prophesy is that Rubashkin will be acquitted from all the charges. Sorry I am convinced that Hashem will not split the red sea for Rubashkin, it would be such a shock that Rubashkin were found not guilty on each and every charge, as for the intimidation “ The Gentiles do NOT understand who they are dealing with” well you know they are right they don’t know that some of these people lost it.
P.S. I am still praying for a plea for one or two counts.
28
Jul 18, 2009 at 05:07 AM hendel Says:
“ I really do not understand. The Alter Rebbe said that he will see moshiach in his time. The people living 50 years ago will see him; he is around the corner.
The current people seemed to ignore that and banked their money on the seventh Rebbe. Now that the Rebbe was niftar, they looked to the Torah for more proofs that their opinion was still right and the rest of Yiddishkeit and Klal Yisroel was wrong.
Moshiach will come when Moshiach will come. Period. You cannot blatantly claim that he is not coming because of this person or that person's perceived sinas chinam.
Which brings me to my point. The Gentiles do not understand who they are dealing with??? Whom are you refering to - Hashem or Rubashkin? Hashem is not a 'with'. And Rubashkin has no powers. The mere fact that the family are a baal chessed (my dikduk is off) did not save his brother from doing really bad stuff and admitting it AND going to jail. Twice. .
Do not use the title 'RABBI' before his name. He is a disgrace to us all and calling him a respected title makes the 'gentiles' think that he is revered, someone to emulate, someone to learn from.
We do not need you for a navi sheker. We have enough problems without you ”
your hatred of other jews is outstanding and remarkable.
there is a natural feeling of mercy from one jew to another. a jew who does not have these feelings is NOT A JEW. This is why Dovid Hamelech said about the givoinim that they are no longer jews.
what you write has nothing at all to do with the article or what anyone else has been saying. you just look for a way to weasel in your sinas chinom to other jews especially during the three weeks.
29
Jul 18, 2009 at 09:25 PM . Says:
“ your hatred of other jews is outstanding and remarkable.
there is a natural feeling of mercy from one jew to another. a jew who does not have these feelings is NOT A JEW. This is why Dovid Hamelech said about the givoinim that they are no longer jews.
what you write has nothing at all to do with the article or what anyone else has been saying. you just look for a way to weasel in your sinas chinom to other jews especially during the three weeks.
”
Thank you for your explanation of what sinas chinam is and what feelings we are supposed to have for someone.
Would it be nice to say that you would have decided to side with the meraglim or with Korach? Of course not. Does it hurt you if I compare you to them? Probably. So we see that you have no problem hurting me the same way that you think I hurt someone else.
You missed the whole point, No one had a direct connection to Hakadosh Basuch Hu. Neve'ius stopped at the churban Bayis sheni and we are left on our own to figure out what is right and wrong. We have hints and tips from the g'dolim (and whom we percieve to be g'dolim is another topic).
Some bow down to false entities. Money is a great motivator and there are some people in some Yiddishe businesses that are motivated by greed. They do not understand that there is enough business for everyone and their business plan and model is to have a monopoly on Kosher meat or Jewish outreach, L'mashal (for example)0.
Other people claim that their gadol/rebbe/teacher is the only mouthpiece for Yiddishkeit and there are no other opinions on what goes on. They follow their gadol/rebbe/teacher blindly and no other gadol/rebbe/teacher has the mesorah from Har Sinai. They forgot that the Zohar says that there were 600,000 Torahs that were given out at Har Sinai, not one. There are differering opinions from Bet Hillel and Bet Shammai all over the place and, to quote the gemorra - EYLU V'EYLI DIVREI ELOKIM CHAYIM - this one and that one are words of the living HAshem.
Bottom line - You might argue that there was or was not a chullul Hashem in Postville. You might argue whether or not there were great problems in the management of the plant, from ethical behavior, tzar baalei chayim, tremendous Kashrus issues, labor issues, union issues, child labor issues, whatever. But never tell me that you have the only daas Torah, that this is a way to 'weasel sinas chinam during the 3 weeks' or anything else that you might think if in order to cloud the issue.
30
Jul 19, 2009 at 08:03 AM Anonymous Says:
“ your hatred of other jews is outstanding and remarkable.
there is a natural feeling of mercy from one jew to another. a jew who does not have these feelings is NOT A JEW. This is why Dovid Hamelech said about the givoinim that they are no longer jews.
what you write has nothing at all to do with the article or what anyone else has been saying. you just look for a way to weasel in your sinas chinom to other jews especially during the three weeks.
”
Not hatred of other Jews. Just the bad ones. Just the ones who cause massive chillul Hashem and then blame everyone else for what they did.