Congress was not “clear and unambiguous,” but the “better reading” of federal law finds it did not intend to withhold jurisdiction from the district courts in deciding criminal violations under the Federal Meat Inspection Act. That finding by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit means the criminal convictions of William B. Aossey…
Halal appeals get meaty; federal court jurisdiction challenged
When it went through the trial court, the case just seemed like a switch-a-roo scheme that got busted. But now, a consolidated appeal with oral arguments planned is sparking broader interest because it’s become a question about the jurisdiction of federal courts. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has allowed the federal…
Sentencing in Food Safety Cases Are Not Without Complications
After every successful prosecution comes the sentencing. But in several high profile criminal cases involving food safety, sentencing is turning out to be pretty complicated. Take the case of 74-year-old William B. Aossey Jr. He’s the Iowan who built Midamar Corp. and Islamic Services of America (ISA) into a successful Halal food exporter. Then, in…
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 enforcement will continue to rely on these U.S. Department of Justice-led (DOJ) criminal cases in 2015? You can bet on…
Iowa Beef Producer Charged With Falsifying Halal Shipments
An alleged scheme to export beef falsely labeled as eligible for sale to customers in Indonesia and Malaysia has prompted a federal grand jury to indict an elderly Iowa businessman on 19 felonies. William B. Aossey Jr., 73, will make his first appearance Thursday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa. The…