The owners of Iowa-based Quality Egg pled guilty today to charges in connection with the national salmonella outbreak. Seventy-nine-year-old Austin “Jack” DeCoster of Turner, Maine, and 51-year-old Peter DeCoster of Clarion each pled guilty to one count of introducing adulterated food into into interstate commerce in federal court in Sioux City.
Jack DeCoster acknowledged that he was the person ultimately responsible for the operations of Quality Egg in Wright County and the various egg facilities in Iowa associated with Quality Egg. Peter DeCoster, as part of his plea agreement, admitted that was the Chief Operating Officer of Quality Egg, and he exercised some control over the production and distribution of shell eggs by Quality Egg and related entities and assets in Iowa.
A sentencing date has not yet been set and both remain free on bail.
The U.S. Attorney’s office for the Nothern District of Iowa released this information on the possible sentences faced by the DeCosters and Quality Egg:
On the bribery count, Quality Egg faces a sentence of probation for at least one and up to five years and a fine equal to the greater of three times the monetary equivalent of the thing of value given, offered, or promised as part of the offense, or $500,000. Quality Egg also agreed to forfeit a money judgment of $10,000 representing proceeds of the bribery offense.
On the introducing misbranded eggs into interstate commerce with the intent to defraud count, Quality Egg faces a maximum sentence of probation for at least one and up to five years and a fine equal to the greater of twice the gross gain resulting from the offense, twice the gross loss resulting from the offense, or $500,000.
On the introducing adulterated eggs in interstate commerce count, Quality Egg faces a sentence of probation for up to five years and a fine equal to the greater of twice the gross gain resulting from the offense, twice the gross loss resulting from the offense, or $100,000.
Austin “Jack” DeCoster and Peter DeCoster each face a maximum sentence of up to one year imprisonment or a term of probation of not more than five years; a fine equal to the greater of twice the gross gain or the gross loss resulting from the offense, or $100,000; and a term of supervised release after any imprisonment for up to one year.