12:10PM EST: According to a breaking news report by the Associated Press, prosecutors have dismissed all 72 immigration charges against Sholom Rubashkin.
The move came after Sholom Rubashkin’s conviction last week in federal court on financial fraud charges.
THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY – FURTHER DETAILS TO FOLLOW…..
UPDATE 2:00PM EST: Federal prosecutors dismissed all immigration charges against former Postville meat plant manager Sholom Rubashkin today, one week after a South Dakota jury convicted him of 86 business-fraud charges.
The decision spares Rubashkin a second federal trial on 72 immigration-related charges. But the former vice president at Agriprocessors, Inc. still could spend the rest of his life in prison. The maximum sentence for his convictions adds to 1,255 years.
Federal jurors convicted Rubashkin last week of all but five of the 91 business fraud charges listed in a 163-count indictment. But supporters of Rubashkin, the former vice president at Agriprocessors, Inc. in Postville, continued to maintain that he had done nothing illegal.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Deegan Jr., one of three federal prosecutors who argued the case, wrote in court papers that any further convictions “would be entirely eclipsed by (Rubashkin’s) recommended guideline sentence on the counts for which he has already been convicted.”
Deegan said Rubashkin has already been convicted of the most serious charges listed in the indictment. Dismissing the charges also will avoid an extended and costly trial and lessen the inconvenience to possible witnesses, he said.
This is not to minimize the importance of those counts, but at least of the purpose of the advisory sentencing guideline range, any convictions on (the immigration counts) would have no impact on the defendant’s sentence,” Deegan wrote.
(Source: The Des Moines Register)
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36 Responses
BOURUCH HASHEM!!!!!
I GUESS THE BOSS OF THE REAL COURT (HASHEM)
BELIVES THAT HE IS INDEED NOT GUILTY
MAY THE SAME THING HAPPEN IN HIS SECOND TRIAL
If this is really true, WOW!! Chasdei Hashem. Now we MUST all daven that the sentence on the other charges will be nothing more than probation, fines, etc and that he can go back home to his family….BE”H!!
Does it mean he doesn’t go to jail? Is this good or bad?
Anonymous #1:
Because our tefilos were answered by the RBS’O, and the Yad Hashem stopped the anti-semites dead in their tracks.
Baruch Hashem!
wat????????so wat is he facing now???????
chasdei hashem!!!!!!!!
just shows tht anything can happen…please update already!!!!!!!!!
Finally some good news – I really hope he gets off totally
TO locknload, AND mylogic37 AND ALL THOSE OVER HERE WHO THOUGHT THAT IF YOUR CONVICTED IN A US COURT IT MUST MEAN YOUR GUILTY, AND IF YOU DID THE CRIME YOU GOTTA DO THE TIME, WELL NOW THE ONLY REAL JUDGE THE RIBONO SHELL OLAM HAS FOUND RAV SHOLAM RUBASHKIN INNOCENT OF GUILT, REMEMBER HASHEM DOES THINGS HIS WAY
To #1 annon;
Uh, Because like it didn’t stick, too much media exposure?
Not every attack is successful.
The aggressors felt; you takes your chances.
( beside, its possible PETA was out to get him because of the meat, and the unions were out to get him because of the demands he would not meet.)
Often the prosecutor will file more charges than they have too. The US Attorney was probably happy that they got the Fraud charges and will be able to put him away long enough that there is no point in pursuing the additional charges. Also, the sentences may run concurrently not consecutively so there wouldn’t be additional jail time or fines.
Alizak28 –he still goes to jail just not on immigration charges
Please. Stop claiming anti-semitism. Enough with this naarishkeit. The jury was provided with clear evidence of misconduct on many counts. Just because the frum censored media did not mention it, it does not mean that there was no evidence of fraud. wake up!
And, by the way.,, dismissing the charges is not an indication of innocence.
The motion claimed that once he’s already been convicted of financial fraud in so many counts, it’s unnecessary to submit him to further trials.
Anonymous #13 —
Where is your bitachon?
It is absolutely positively 1000% possible to daven, and the RBS”O answers your Tefilos ONE MOMENT thereafter!
First things first, BARUCH HASHEM!!!!
#1, what is so difficult to understand that it was antisemitism that threw the book at Agriprocessors. If “Immigration Issues” were dealt with fairly, or even at all, it would take lifetimes before the Feds ever even found the Agriprocessors factory.
A sincere question. In anticipated reaction, I want to say I truly am relieved at the good news today. Baruch Hashem! Not being one to go with a crowd just for the sake of it, in secular matters, can someone sincerely, calmly respond to if the PETA investigation showing animals still struggling to live up to 2 minutes after shechita is, in fact, valid? There are some videos of this on certain sites. Charges were made in 04 and 07. THAT, to me, is a kashrus concern of great importance. Thank you for any reasonable, thoughtful response.
If Sholom Rubashkin does not succeed on appeal he will spend most of the rest of his life, at least assuming he lives out the US male average, behind bars. The Federal prosecutors have other things to do with their time than persue another 10 concurrent years. That is all this is about, simple standard lawyers procedures. Do not anyone think it is a move intended to in any way help Rubashkin
I don’t think this is good news! He was trying to get out on bail UNTIL the next trial. But now,that there WILL NOT be a next trial, what is going to happen now??!!
#13, Obviously you are not part of the deal. You prefer to be an Anon, a la Greek culture or whatever. Joseph is 110% correct and you have no evidence at all, nor will you, to prove your point. Keep such a childish opinion (if you dont see it, it must not be) to yourself. This site is for adults.
#15 is right. this is a form of kam lay m’dirabah minay. the immigration charges are being eclipsed as thay are already covered by the 87 charges on bank fraud, money laundering, etc. no need to go back for more. he is not being found innocent of any of the dropped charges.
on a related matter,I sometimes wonder if certain elements of our community can ever imagine that a “frum” person can actually perpetrate a crime because it is always “anti-Semitism, corrupt court system or Obama’s fault.”
wake up!
you do the crime, you do the time!
what are you so excited about? he’s lookin at 1200 years. even mesushelach didn’t live that long. the feds are like- why bother?
Moshiachnow- Do you have any Halachic sources telling you that if a proper Shechita was done and the animal appears to be alive, then the Shechita is invalid? I’ve seen the videos and have no trouble believing that the movements of the animals after the Shechita are merely nerve palpitations.
The prosecutors are not stupid, contrary to “normal heimishe” thinking that they are and “heimishe” yidden can get away with anything. Large contingent of yidden sleeping in bunks in Otisville proves that you can’t do anything that you feel is right, even though the US government has laws against it. True, the original immigration raid and charges were anti-semitic. There are many large companies that get away with this or are given slaps on the wrist. That’s why the Feds are dropping those charges. Who needs it, they have him on REAL charges of bank fraud, which he did, and did knowingly. It’s an old klal godol in Fed cases. When they ctach you, say chotosi poshati and hang your head low. They’ll go with much reduced plea bargain, to the point of sometimes probation. Act like you own the world, and they’ll hit you hard. Signing your name to obviously false bank loan documents isn’t anti-semitism. It’s stupid business practice. And saying that everybody does it isn’t an answer. Those who are caught, are prosecuted. Although Rubashkin might be able to tell the court that he thought he has a heter meiyo rabbonim. Must be at least a 100 rabbonim who choto veshono bo, naaseh keheter.
#25, I appreciate your comment and that you were not defensive, which too many people can be. One of the countless beautiful things about our religion is that it DOES stand upon examination or inquiry. Are you a shochet? While a appreciate you have no trouble believing the movements of the animal are “kosher”, I would like to know if it is an opinion or a ruling on your part. Unfortunately, many of us are not perfectionists all the time in our vocations, so this concern is very important.
Everyone relax.
As I understand it, this is a simple and expected procedural action. The charges were not dropped based on any new information. The charges were dropped simply because in the prosocutions opinion, it is not worth the time and money to convct him on more charges when the current convictions already carry hundreds of years of jail time. Hashem Yirachem.
To #9 please read comment #29. He explains it all.
YWN next time I think you need to explain a little better in your article WHY they dropped the charges b/c people like #9 start thinking that Rubashkin was innocent!!
THIS IS A PROSECUTION TRAGEDY ON THE PART OF THE PROSECUTERS, THEY AINT LOOKING OUT FOR RUBASHKIN THEY ARE LOOKING OUT FOR THEMSELVES, WHY BECOUSE THEY KNOW THAT RUBASHKIN WILL BE AQUITED ON ALL THE IMMIGRATION CHARGES, AND IF HE GETS AQUITED IT WILL NOT LOOK GOOD FOR THE ENTIRE CASE MAKING IT EASIER FOR RUBASKIN TO APPEAL, THEY ALSO DID THIS TO MAKE IT APPEAR THAT ITS NOT ANTI SEMITIC BUT IT IS INDEED ANTI SEMITIC THE PROSECUTION HAVE NOTHING TO LOOSE BECOUSES HE FACES MORE YEARS THEN THE SPANTIME OF ANY LIFE ON EARTH
THE PROSECUTERS ARE VERY SMART, LETS KEEP PRAYING FOR MERCY ON RAV SHOLAM RUBASHKINS BEHALF
I wonder what the comments section would look like if only people with first hand knowledge of the case and the evidence would comment, and all the speculators would keep their opinions to themselves. May Hakadosh Baruch Hu have rachmanut on Shalom Rubashkin, just like he has rachmanut on the many recipients of his tzedakah and kindness.
commonsense, it has been anti-semitism all of the time. Never, ever was this done on anyof the Halal meat processor. The sole exception was the one outside of Chicago, IL and there has been an absolute silence form the media about it. It is like the story died.
I am just so glad that these charges were dismissed. Halevai veiter…….
common sense if you wouldve followed the trial maybe you wouldve seen plenty of proofs of anti semitism but NO you would rather be more cultured then the rst of the narrow minded jews who view everything as anti semitism because a after all anti semitism never happens right? modernfrum bronxboy YOU would probably say that if it was ur own friend ..how sad when the biggest anti semites are our fellow jews DOES KLAL YISROEL NEED ANOTHER SATAN
Amen #28. You obviously have a more robust understanding of Judaism that I wish was far more common amongst us. #21 – you might be an adult, but you are clearly missing wisdom. Everybody else that is silly enough to call this anti-Semitism, – please stop. It doesn’t make us look good.
Amen #28. You obviously have a more robust understanding of Judaism that I wish was far more common amongst us. #21 – you might be an adult, but you clearly are missing wisdom. Everybody else that is silly enough to call this anti-Semitism, – please stop. It doesn’t make us look good.
This is just what Nat Lewin predicted. The immigration charges were just harrassment. They were bogus.
The Government thugs went fishing for some way to destroy his business, and lock him up. They found a better way, so they dropped the fake charges.
#9
I’m sorry to say but your comment smells from apikorusus
Yes tefillos do work especially when its done with achdus as is such in this case people from all walks of life chasidish litvish lubavitch sefardi where storming the heavens for him
I heard from Reb Shimshon Pinkus ZT”L that if you look into the history of the holocaust you would see that there was never a call for mass tefilah the RBS”O in his infinite wisdom made sure the idea did not go into the heads of the people for if it had hashem would have had to answer there tefilos
You need to pick up a nefesh hachiem and learn shar habitochon and you will see that its all good
Its the ameyratzim like you that make people throughout the ages forsake the ways of Hashem not some people with a strong emunah
Sorry that coment was for #13
But the bottom line is keep Davening.
does anyone know the true story?
#26, Anon….
Oh, I presume 100% that prayers have an effect. I also 100% realize that Hashem takes everything into consideration and decides according to His decision what should be manifest. And I accept that.
#26, sad to say, you did hit the nail as much on the head as one possibly can who regrets to speak the truth, but knows turning your head the other way means you would lower your expectation on our people, and that won’t fly.
Bottom line: It’s important to be mentschadik in ALL of our affairs.