Agriprocessors former CEO pleads not guilty
Eds: UPDATES with Freund entering not guilty plea; ADDS separate hearing for company set for Dec. 5. APNewsNow.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — The former CEO of an embattled kosher slaughterhouse in Postville has pleaded not guilty to federal immigration charges.
Sholom Rubashkin, the former head of Agriprocessors Inc., entered his plea on Wednesday during an arraignment in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids.
Also charged is Karina Pilar Freund, who worked in the company’s human resources department. She entered a written plea of not guilty on Tuesday and waived her right to appear at the arraignment.
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Last week, a federal grand jury returned a 12-count indictment against the company and its managers, including Rubashkin and Freund, alleging they were involved in efforts to employ illegal immigrants.
Federal immigration agents raided the plant in May and arrested 389 workers.
A hearing involving charges against the company is Dec. 5.
