Randall Rahal, Bribing Food Purchasing Officers, California 2009

Bribery and corruption have no place in the food industry, and two executives are paying the price for their crimes. Randall Rahal, a 65-year-old former food broker from Nantucket, Mass., has been sentenced to three years in prison for his role in a bribery scheme that involved paying off food purchasing officers on behalf of SK Foods.

According to court documents, Rahal was the subject of multiple wiretaps in 2007 and 2008, and his crimes were deemed serious enough to warrant a substantial prison sentence. United States District Judge Lawrence K. Karlton handed down the sentence on this day.

Rahal’s sentencing is the result of an investigation by the FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigation, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, and the Antitrust Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew D. Segal and Jared C. Dolan, along with Antitrust Division Trial Attorneys Anna T. Pletcher and Tai Milder, prosecuted the case against Rahal.

Rahal’s crimes were committed while he was working as a food broker for SK Foods, a company that was accused of directing others to falsely label food products. Alan Huey, the former president of SK Foods, was also sentenced in connection with the case.

Huey, a 57-year-old resident of Pebble Beach, Calif., was sentenced to three years’ probation with a special condition of 60 days’ intermittent confinement. Judge Karlton took into account Huey’s wife’s serious health problems and her dependence on him for care.

The SK Foods investigation was a major crackdown on corruption in the food industry, and it serves as a reminder that those who engage in bribery and other forms of corruption will be held accountable. The case against Rahal is a testament to the hard work and dedication of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors who are committed to upholding the law and protecting the public.

In sentencing Rahal, Judge Karlton emphasized the seriousness of the crimes and the need for substantial prison sentences. The judge’s decision sends a strong message to those who would engage in similar conduct in the future.

Mandatory Facts: Defendant: Randall Rahal; Crime: Bribing Food Purchasing Officers; City and State: Sacramento, California; Date: Not specified; Sentence: Three years in prison.

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