Michelle Myrter, Aiding Adulterated Cheese, Pennsylvania 2023

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania - A federal judge has scheduled sentencing for Michelle Myrter, 44, executive of Castle Cheese Company, on one misdemeanor count of aiding and abetting the introduction of adulterated and misbranded cheese products into interstate commerce.

On Tuesday, October 11, at 1 p.m., U.S. District Judge Mark R. Hornak will sentence Myrter on the charge in violation of provisions of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The law provides for a total sentence of one year in prison, a fine of $100,000, or both.

Myrter's company, Castle Cheese Company, along with Universal Cheese &Drying, Inc. and International Packing, LLC, had packaged and sold cheese under various labels at the Castle Cheese facility in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. The cheese was distributed through retail, food service, and wholesale customers throughout the United States.

The companies had knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) regulations and standards of identity for parmesan and romano cheese products and were aware that the products did not conform to FDA standards of identity for real parmesan and romano cheese. The companies represented to customers that the products contained 100 percent real parmesan and romano cheese, but did not bear labels that accurately reflected the products' ingredients.

The adulterated romano and parmesan products were sold under several brand names, the owners of which were unaware of the fraud. The adulterated products are no longer available for sale. At no time did the adulterated products pose a threat to the health or safety of consumers.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tonia Sulia Goodman is prosecuting these cases on behalf of the government. Federal agents with the FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)'s Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecutions of Universal Cheese & Drying, Inc., International Packing, LLC and Michelle Myrter.

For the corporate defendants, the law provides for a fine of $500,000 for each defendant. Each company has already agreed to forfeit to the United States $500,000.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdpa/pr/court-sets-oct-11th-sentencing-date-adulterated-and-misbranded-cheese-cases