Victor H. Gonzalez, Inhumane Slaughter, Florida 2018

LOXAHATCHEE, FL – In a shocking case of animal cruelty, Victor H. Gonzalez, 53, was sentenced to three years of probation and a fine of $75,000 for his involvement in the inhumane slaughter of swine at his Loxahatchee facility.

According to the court record, Gonzalez, who had previously pled guilty, was the president of El Milagro Nursery, Inc., a company with its principal place of business in Loxahatchee, Florida. Gonzalez was responsible for the day-to-day management and oversight of its activities, and engaged in the slaughtering, processing, handling, storing, and selling of meat and meat food products in commerce, for human consumption, including swine.

On December 17, 2016, federal officers conducted a surveillance and inspection visit at the Milagro facility. Employees were observed engaged in the slaughter and processing of swine for customers. The premises lacked proper, operable equipment to stun or otherwise render the animals insensible to pain, as required by law. The business practices at Milagro, as directed by Gonzalez, were not humane.

The Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA) established as the public policy of the United States, that the slaughtering or handling for slaughter of livestock, including swine, may only be carried out by humane methods. The law requires that such animals be rendered insensible to pain by one of the methods described in the law, prior to the animal being shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut.

U.S. Attorney Benjamin G. Greenberg commended the investigative efforts of the USDA FSIS, Office of Program Evaluation, Enforcement and Review, Compliance & Investigations Division and thanked the Palm Beach County Agricultural Unit for their assistance. This matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Watts-FitzGerald.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

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