8/9/2019 Agriprocessors Letter to the Editor

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United States Attorneys OfficeNorthern District of Iowa

United States Attorney Stephanie M. Rose

LETTER TO THE EDITORFor further information contact:Bob Teig

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (319) 363-6333Date: June 22, 2010 Cedar Rapids, Iowa

On June 22, 2010, Sholom Rubashkin was sentenced to 27 years in prison. Thatclosed another chapter involving the May 12, 2008, U.S. Immigration and CustomsEnforcement worksite enforcement operation at Postville, Iowa. The time has come toset the record straight about that day and the following two years.

The small town of Postville relied upon Agriprocessors. Postville was occupied byresidents who benefitted from, and feared the discovery of, hundreds of illegal workers.Agriprocessors capitalized on fears workers fears of being deported; employeesfears of revealing lies made to the companys creditors; and residents fears of thetowns economy crumbling if Agriprocessors illegal acts were discovered. The toughdecision was made to go forward with a massive enforcement operation afterconsultations at the highest levels of the United States Departments of Justice andHomeland Security.

May 12, 2008, was a day many will long remember. Hundreds of illegal workers compliant and accepting were charged, provided attorneys, and entered into the

criminal justice system. Tireless agents, U.S. Attorneys Office employees, defenseattorneys, and court personnel worked around the clock to ensure defendants rightswere protected and standards of human decency were met.

By May 22, 2008, 306 illegal workers had pled guilty to their immigration- ordocument-related offenses. The prosecution of the illegal workers was complete. Theprosecution of those who preyed upon those workers had just begun.

Over the next 18 months, hundreds of witnesses were interviewed. An intensiveinvestigation substantiated crimes known in May 2008 and revealed many moreunknown crimes. Steadily, the case against Agriprocessors, Sholom Rubashkin, andothers was built. At each step, a grand jury heard the evidence and returnedindictments charging the crimes. Ultimately, nine lower level Agriprocessors managersand office employees pled guilty and were sentenced.

After an impartial trial jury heard the evidence and convicted Rubashkin on November12, 2009, a concerted campaign emerged to paint prosecutors as racists, Nazis, andzealots. This office followed the law, stood silent in the face of vicious and falseaccusations, and worked to the conclusion of the case. Silence is no longer in order.

8/9/2019 Agriprocessors Letter to the Editor

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First, claims from people not involved in the May 2008 enforcement action about whatsupposedly occurred in Postville and Waterloo have been ill-informed and false. Agentswere not clad in riot gear. There was no military operation. The single helicopter on thescene was equipped only for surveillance and to provide medical evacuation shouldthere have been a need. During their short time at the National Cattle Congressgrounds, the illegal workers were appropriately housed and fed meals catered byHy-Vee. They had access to phones, televisions, and other recreational activities.Their health needs were monitored and attended. Those who identified themselves as

sole care givers of children were immediately released. A representative from theGuatemalan consulate inspected the grounds and found no shortcomings in how theworkers were treated. The fact that some detractors have made false claims ofprodding people down cattle chutes and other imagined abuses says more about thosedetractors personal agendas than it does about the real events in May 2008.

Second, the enforcement action was critical to the successful prosecution of Rubashkinand other management employees at Agriprocessors. These cases could not havebeen effectively prosecuted if the illegal workers had not been arrested and detained.Not one unarrested illegal worker ever came forward to assist law enforcement.

Third, Rubashkin absolutely personally profited from his crimes. The jury never foundotherwise. Uncontroverted evidence at trial showed that, during just the two yearsimmediately preceding May 2008, Rubashkin funneled about $1.5 million from

Agriprocessors accounts to his personal bank accounts. Hundreds of thousands ofthose dollars paid his personal credit card bills, remodeled his home, paid his taxes,paid his personal mortgage, bought jewelry and silver, and made his car payments.

Fourth, claims Rubashkins religious beliefs led to his prosecution have no foundation.His faith had nothing to do with his crimes, prosecution, or punishment.

Finally, various interest groups and people evidently seeking personal notoriety have

hijacked the true facts of this case for their own purposes. It is impossible to addressthe mountain of false information that has found its way into the public arena. But the

jury found the truth that Rubashkin knowingly employed illegal workers and committeda $26 million bank fraud. He is a common criminal who committed uncommon crimes.

Stephanie M. RoseUnited States Attorney