CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Two brothers who own companies that distribute and certify halal food products have pleaded guilty to federal charges.
Midamar Corp. president Jalel Aossey pleaded guilty Friday to conspiring to commit fraud. He admitted that labels on meat products and documents exported to Malaysia and Indonesia were falsified, and that Midamar made false claims about the way its beef products had been slaughtered. Under a plea agreement, he agreed to resign and divest himself from the company.
His brother, Yahya Aossey, pleaded guilty to selling misbranded meat products. He admitted that he marketed beef flank steak as being "supervised and slaughtered by Muslim slaughtermen," which was false.
Their father, Midamar founder Bill Aossey, is already in federal custody awaiting sentencing after a jury convicted him on similar charges in July.