ChemNutra pair make plea deal, cop to misdemeanors
By Gina Spadafori
June 3, 2009
I guess I would feel better if I had any confidence at all that the problems with rogue suppliers and the so-called regulatory system has improved at all. From the AP:
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A company and its owners have agreed to plead guilty in connection with melamine-tainted pet food that may have killed thousands of dogs and cats 2007, according to a court document.
An attorney for Stephen S. Miller, co-owner of ChemNutra Inc., said his client had reached a plea agreement with prosecutors and would plead guilty plea at a hearing June 16, according to the papers filed in court last week.
Miller’s wife, Sally Miller, and Las Vegas-based ChemNutra also plan to plead guilty, the filing said. Attorneys did not immediately respond to calls seeking comment Tuesday.
[...]
The Millers and ChemNutra, along with two Chinese companies, were indicted in February 2008 on charges alleging they imported wheat gluten tainted with the chemical melamine, which was then sold to pet food makers. Thousands of cats and dogs reportedly sickened or died after eating the tainted food.
ChemNutra, which imports ingredients from China to the U.S. for the feed and food industries, and the Millers were charged with 13 misdemeanor counts of introduction of adulterated food into interstate commerce, 13 misdemeanor counts of introduction of misbranded food into interstate commerce and one felony count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Here’s the rest. They’ll be back in business in a year, whaddaya want to bet?
Back in business?
I don’t recall seeing anywhere they went out of business or stopped doing business.
Comment by Kate — June 3, 2009 @ 9:10 am
And what do we imagine their sentence will be?
Some minor fine, at worst.
Certainly nothing for the owners of the thousands of pets whose deaths they are responsible for.
Hey, maybe the HSUS will hire them to talk to kids about the problems of pet food contamination at the same time they hire Vick to talk about the problems of dogfighting?
Comment by EmilyS — June 3, 2009 @ 9:17 am
I won’t bet against you Gina…I know you are probably right. Just when I thought I could get no sadder over this nightmare…I find out I can. My two were the lucky ones in that they did live on for a few months…I will never forget what this “not following the proper rules” did to my happy little home…Never….I had thought someone would pay the price for this melamine poisoning…just didn’t think it would be only the 4 legged ones…
Comment by Carol V — June 3, 2009 @ 9:32 am
Stunning. How is this really different from a terrorist who poisons the food supply? In my eyes, ChemNutra and the Millers might represent the greater evil - and the greater threat. Putting poison in food just for the sake of the almight dollar is about as low as you can go. If they’re let off with a slap on the wrist, what’s going to stop the next greedy &@$+@<* from doing this?
Comment by Janeen — June 3, 2009 @ 9:50 am
CBS
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories.....8604.shtml
Comment by Kate — June 3, 2009 @ 9:52 am
Shame on the law. Mere misdemeanors for the pain and anguish they caused thousands of citizens in the horrifying illnesses and losses of their beloved companions? My heart dog, a strong, healthy 125-pound, 12 year old Bouvier was reduced to a limp mass who had to be carried outside to relieve himself as his entire system shut down rapidly. He suffered an unnecessary, agonizing death at the hands of the Millers and Menu Foods. I would love to show in court the videos of him helplessly bleeding from both ends, which is more what I had in mind for the Miller’s punishment for this crime.
We’re all still suffering from the trauma, and will probably never recover, while the Millers will continue on like nothing happened after their hands are slapped briefly. Damn them all.
Comment by NadineL — June 3, 2009 @ 10:01 am
The message I’m getting from the prosecutors? Protecting business and their profits matters, protecting the public and their pets doesn’t.
Bah.
Comment by Barry — June 3, 2009 @ 10:04 am
Geezuhs, what ever happened to conscious choices—totally irresponsible.
Bad, bad karma.
Comment by Ark Lady — June 3, 2009 @ 10:24 am
I’m a firm believer in…
“what goes around, comes around.”
Believe me, they will pay for what they did, in some way or another. I’ve seen it happen time and time again.
Comment by Marcy — June 3, 2009 @ 9:38 pm
Well probation and a fine…real deterrent and justice ..huh…and they have never stopped doing business—-they just have a different name…so much for me to say on behalf of my Smudge and Jessica and all the others I have met since March 2007, some are still here with horrible health…but.. Gina would ban me for my language..I am afraid I will never get over it…sad to say but it was easier for me to lose my Harry to his cancer as I felt I had no hand in it..that the cancer could not have been prevented with people just being honest…the way I was brought up to be…
some links to read..
http://www.lvrj.com/news/46898107.html
http://www.eosdirect.com/
http://www.eosdirect.com/aboutus.html
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/.....956D41.DTL
Comment by Carol V — June 17, 2009 @ 5:49 am
and to add insult to injury…this plea came out during the time we have another “supplier” “error”… regarding Trow Nutrition and Nutro/Mars…
and the Natures Variety “withdrawal”…
and the whole FDA/Evangers issue…
Comment by Carol V — June 17, 2009 @ 5:55 am