DES MOINES, IA — Federal prosecutors have agreed to drop identity-theft charges against a former Postville slaughterhouse executive in a light of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision.
Prosecutors this afternoon asked a federal judge to dismiss seven counts of aiding and abetting aggravated identity theft, in response to a motion filed last week by Sholom Rubashkin’s lawyer.
Government Seeks to Drop Charges Against Rubashkin
DES MOINES, IA — Federal prosecutors have agreed to drop identity-theft charges against a former Postville slaughterhouse executive in a light of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision.
Prosecutors this afternoon asked a federal judge to dismiss seven counts of aiding and abetting aggravated identity theft, in response to a motion filed last week by Sholom Rubashkin’s lawyer.
Defense lawyer Guy Cook hailed the request as a victory for his client and a government admission of “overreaching in this case.” Government lawyers said the charges stemmed from violations that could have prosecuted until the recent Supreme Court ruling.
“There is nothing ‘unfair’ or ‘overreaching’ about subjecting defendant Rubashkin to the same laws as others,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Deegan wrote in court papers.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last week that prosecutors who file identity-theft charges must prove the defendant knew that the information used belonged to another person.
Rubashkin was arrested last year on immigration, bank fraud and cattle-related charges, along with several other employees identified in what was then a 99-count indictment. The arrests followed a May 12, 2008, immigration raid at Agriprocessors Inc. that led to the arrest of 389 immigrant workers. The kosher meat plant also has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is seeking buyers.
Rubashkin also is among several employees charged with state-level child labor violations. He has pleaded not guilty to the state and federal charges.
Praying for the Rubashkins!
May all the charges against him be dropped!
Yanki
This happened on Lag Baomer
כדאי הוא רבי שמעון לסמך עליו בשעת הדחק
daven today lag b-omer
shalom mordechai halevi ben rivkah
daven today lag b’omer especialy at the ohel
he should be completly freed from all charges
Eli
for some reason I don’t see them putting a story about dropped charges on the front page..
postville bochurim
didan natzach
Pinson
May it be His will!