One of the three defendants sentenced Monday in the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) criminal case remains free. Mary Wilkerson, who was sentenced to five years of imprisonment after her jury conviction for obstruction of
Continue Reading Wilkerson Awaits ‘Voluntary Surrender,’ Lists Appeal Grounds
Wilkerson’s Court-Appointed Attorney Keeps Fighting for His Client
In the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) criminal case, brothers Stewart and Michael Parnell are the former executives. Stewart was PCA’s chief executive officer and Michael brokered peanuts to the company. Mary Wilkerson was the
Continue Reading Wilkerson’s Court-Appointed Attorney Keeps Fighting for His Client
Restitution Phase of PCA Criminal Case Starts With Bankruptcy History
ALBANY, GA—Defense attorneys in the restitution phase of the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) criminal prosecution focused in Wednesday on a 2009 claims adjustment agreement that a bankruptcy court used to disperse $12.75 million to
Continue Reading Restitution Phase of PCA Criminal Case Starts With Bankruptcy History
PCA Defense Attorney Calls Page in FDA Agent’s Diary ‘Suspect’
A forensic expert should be hired by the court to determine if a page in a U.S. Food and Drug Administration agent’s diary was tampered with before last summer’s trial of Peanut Corporation of America
Continue Reading PCA Defense Attorney Calls Page in FDA Agent’s Diary ‘Suspect’
Acquittal Motion Thickens Plot as PCA Post-Trial Wait Continues
A two-month break in post-trial action in the criminal prosecution of former Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) executives ended Thursday with more than 50 pages being filed in support of an acquittal for defendant Mary
Continue Reading Acquittal Motion Thickens Plot as PCA Post-Trial Wait Continues
DOJ Food-Safety Enforcement Role to Continue in 2015
When producers of such staple foods as beef, eggs, and peanut butter found they were the targets of federal criminal prosecution, it became a top food-safety story of 2014. But is it likely that food-safety
Continue Reading DOJ Food-Safety Enforcement Role to Continue in 2015
PCA Defendant Asks Judge to Overturn Obstruction Conviction
Acquitted by a jury on one count of obstruction of justice but convicted on the other, Mary Wilkerson now wants the judge to enter a not-guilty judgment on that charge, too. Wilkerson is the former
Continue Reading PCA Defendant Asks Judge to Overturn Obstruction Conviction
PCA’s Former Plant Manager Cross-Examined by Defense Team
Samuel Lightsey, the former Peanut Corporation of American (PCA) plant manager with the government plea deal, spent more than six days on the witness stand answering every question put to him by prosecutors. On Tuesday,
Continue Reading PCA’s Former Plant Manager Cross-Examined by Defense Team
Latest Motion Asks for Help With Government Documents Before PCA Trial Begins
The former quality-control manager for the now-defunct Peanut Corporation of America processing plant at Blakely, GA, says that her defense cannot make sense out 3 to 4 million documents that could be used at her
Continue Reading Latest Motion Asks for Help With Government Documents Before PCA Trial Begins