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Peanut company owner found guilty in salmonella outbreak

Peanut company owner convicted of fraud and other federal charges coming from a 2008 salmonella outbreak linked to peanut butter.

By Heather Records

ALBANY, Ga., Sept. 19 (UPI) -- A Georgia jury on Friday convicted a former peanut company owner of conspiracy, fraud and several other federal charges coming as a result of a 2008 salmonella outbreak.

That outbreak killed nine people and sickened 714 people nationwide. The culprit? Peanut butter.

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After a seven-week trial, the jury convicted Stewart Parnell and his brother and food broker, Michael Parnell.

Both men were charged with 76 federal counts. According to the indictment, the men intentionally shipped out salmonella-laced peanut products.

Micheal Parnell was found guilty on several counts.

A third person, Mary Wilkerson -- a former quality control manager at the plant -- was convicted of one count of obstruction of justice.

According to federal prosecutors, the trio cut corners to boost profits for Peanut Corp. of America.

They were also accused of covering up positive test results for salmonella in their products.

This was the first time a jury heard a criminal case in which the head of a corporation faced federal felony criminal charges for knowingly shipping out food containing salmonella.

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