Miami Cheese Baron Sentenced for Listeria-Laced Product

MIAMI, FL – Christian Rivas, owner of Oasis Brands, Inc., is trading the comforts of South Florida for a federal prison cell after being sentenced to 15 months behind bars. U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola, Jr. handed down the sentence after Rivas pled guilty to knowingly distributing cheese contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a potentially deadly bacteria. The case, investigated by the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations, is a stark reminder that cutting corners on food safety has serious consequences.

According to court records, the trouble began in July 2014 when the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services flagged Oasis cheese found in a Virginia grocery store. Testing confirmed the presence of listeria. A subsequent FDA inspection of the Oasis facility in Miami revealed a breeding ground for contamination – “numerous failures to comply with current Good Manufacturing Practice federal regulatory standards.” Environmental swabs taken inside the plant also came back positive for the dangerous bacteria.

Rivas initially agreed to a plan to rectify the situation. He promised to halt production, hire a cleaning consultant, and hold all existing products until lab tests confirmed they were listeria-free. He even pledged to pause distribution of current inventory. But Rivas, it turns out, wasn’t playing by the rules. Between September 24, 2014, and October 1, 2014, he secretly finished packaging and shipping cheese that was *still* in the process of being manufactured – and knew it was potentially contaminated. Further FDA testing in December 2014 confirmed what investigators suspected: more of Oasis’ “Lacteos Santa Martha Cuajada en Hoja Fresh Curd” was still laced with listeria.

“Consumer protection is a top priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” declared U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer. “The Southern District of Florida will continue to work with the FDA to identify for prosecution cases where consumers are exposed to the risk of serious harm from contaminated food purchased in the marketplace, while being fraudulently led to believe that it is safe.” Ferrer’s office prosecuted the case, highlighting the seriousness of the offense and the deliberate deception involved.

Special Agent in Charge Justin D. Green of the FDA’s Miami Field Office echoed that sentiment. “U.S. consumers rely on the FDA to ensure that the food they eat is safe and wholesome,” Green stated. “We will continue to pursue and bring to justice those who put the public’s health at risk by allowing contaminated foods to enter the U.S. marketplace.” The FDA’s investigation uncovered a pattern of negligence and a blatant disregard for public safety.

Rivas pled guilty to a two-count criminal Information. Count 1, a felony, charged him with delivering “adulterated” cheese into interstate commerce – meaning the cheese contained a deleterious substance (listeria) that could harm consumers, violating Title 21, United States Code, Section 331(a) and 333(a)(2). Count 2, a misdemeanor, accused him of maintaining an “insanitary” facility, also in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 331(a) and 333(a)(1). Fifteen months may not seem like a long time, but it’s a message sent: knowingly poisoning the public for profit won’t be tolerated.

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