Stewart Parnell, Salmonella Conspiracy, Washington, 2009

Washington – A federal jury has handed down guilty verdicts against Peanut Corporation of America’s (PCA) former CEO Stewart Parnell and his brother Michael Parnell, as well as PCA broker Mary Wilkerson, for their roles in the 2009 salmonella outbreak. The trio was found guilty of conspiracy, mail and wire fraud, introducing misbranded food into commerce, and obstruction of justice.

The convictions stem from the unlawful sale of peanuts contaminated with salmonella, which led to over 700 reported cases and an estimated 22,000 total cases across the country. Evidence presented at trial included forged certificates of analysis (COAs) that falsely claimed PCA’s products were pathogen-free.

Stewart Parnell, along with former PCA operations managers Samuel Lightsey and Daniel Kilgore, who pleaded guilty earlier, are alleged to have deceived customers about the presence of salmonella in their products. They were caught fabricating COAs to mislead consumers into believing their peanut products were safe.

Attorney General Eric Holder emphasized the Department of Justice’s commitment to protecting the nation’s food supply: “Any individual or company who puts the health of consumers at risk by criminally selling tainted food will be caught, prosecuted, and held accountable.”

Joyce R. Branda, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division, praised the jury’s decision, stating that there would be severe consequences for those who prioritize profit over public welfare. “The Department of Justice will not hesitate to pursue any person whose criminal conduct risks the health of Americans and the safety of the nation’s food supply,” she said.

U.S. Attorney Michael J. Moore of the Middle District of Georgia echoed the sentiment: “In this great country, we take for granted the safety of the food we feed our families. We expect justice to be served in cases like these.”