A Wisconsin factory worker has been arrested after allegedly tampering with Johnsonville sausages while on the job earlier this year.
According to media reports, Jonathan Lane allegedly placed a piece of cigarette paper into one sausage link on March 25 and inserted a wire connector into another on March 28 at the company’s production facility in Sheboygan Falls. According to the criminal complaint, Lane reported to management that he had found the foreign objects on the food processing line. However, video surveillance revealed that Lane put the objects there himself.
Johnsonville shut down operations and discarded all products potentially affected by Lane’s alleged actions. Johnsonville representatives say none of the affected products left the facility.
“We commend Johnsonville Sausage, LLC. for its security measures and quick action to prevent any harm to consumers,” United States Attorney Matthew Krueger said in a statement.
Lane is charged with two counts of tampering with consumer products and acting with reckless disregard for the risk that another person would be placed in danger of death or bodily harm. He appeared in federal court on Friday, June 1. He faces up to 10 years in prison and $250,000 in fines in connection to the charges.
