Exec Pleads Guilty In Food Price-Fixing Case

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) -- Federal prosecutors say a former vice president of a Monterey-based tomato processor will be cooperating with authorities after being charged with participating in a nationwide conspiracy to drive up food prices.

Jeffrey Sherman Beasley was charged in a Sacramento federal court Wednesday, and agreed to plead guilty and cooperate with an investigation into his former employer, SK Foods LP.

The 63-year-old Beasley is charged with conspiracy in connection with bribery of purchasing managers of major food companies, as well as conspiracy to sell mislabeled tomato products with the intent to defraud customers.

Former SK broker and director Randall Lee Rahal and purchasing managers from Kraft Foods Inc., Frito-Lay Inc., and B&G Foods Inc. already have pleaded guilty in the case.

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Leave Him Alone 8/20/2009 3:10:00 PM Leave the poor misunderstood guy alone, he's only free marketing, after all that's what free market is all about. Isn't he free to manipulate prices to his advantage, free to screw people, free to tilt the tables to his favor... After all they're in business to turn a profit by gouging their own customer base. Yes, leave him alone, after all he's a good republican. you know, I'm sure he donates heavily to the GOP.
Re: Leave Him Alone 8/21/2009 8:48:00 AM I agree. This is only Right Wing Economics at work. This is the type of business practice that will bring us out of the recession. I want to nominate 'SK Foods LP' for "Republican business of the year".
Pipe down you knuckleheads 8/21/2009 8:58:00 AM Do either of those who responded earlier have any proof of this individual's politics? What if he turns out to be a Democrat? Will you 2 shut up if that happens? Oh no, they wouldn't screw the country to ram through there agenda! BO complained about rushing the Patriot Act but wanted health care approved in 2 wks. Completely different tho.
Who's the knuckle head 8/21/2009 12:25:00 PM If he was a Democrat, he would be giving the money away to people who don't work, He'd be helping his workers form a union. Yep, He's a Republican. Put Mr. Beasley’s name and Republican into Goggle and see what happens... Funny that was the main gripe of the 3rd poster was this guys political affiliation, maybe he doesn’t want Beasley associated with his group, such shameful acts even the right wing won’t claim him.

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