Plea Deal is Focus of Rubashkin's Federal Trial

Former Agriprocessors chief executive officer Sholom Rubashkin leaves the Dubuque County Jail after being released on bail, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009. in Dubuque, Iowa. (AP Photo/The Telegraph Herald, Kori Newby)

Tools

By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Oct 22, 2009 at 2:59 PM CST

Story Updated: Oct 22, 2009 at 2:59 PM CST

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - A defense attorney focused on the plea deal a key witness struck with prosecutors in August in the financial fraud trial of a former kosher slaughterhouse manager.

Former Agriprocessors, Inc., plant controller Yomtov "Toby" Bensasson testified Thursday that the Postville, Iowa, slaughterhouse operated largely on borrowed money, at one point forcing a top manager to cash in his life insurance policy to keep the plant operational.

The manager, Sholom Rubashkin, faces 91 fraud charges in the federal trial.

Rubashkin attorney Guy Cook questioned Bensasson on his deal with prosecutors, in which he pleaded guilty to a charge of making false statements to a bank.

Bensasson has testified that he and Rubashkin falsified invoices in a scheme to defraud a lender bank.

Conversation Guidelines

Be Kind

Don't use abusive, offensive, threatening, racist, vulgar or sexually-oriented language.
Don't attack someone personally. Keep it civil and be responsible.

Share Knowledge

Be truthful. Share what you know and what you are passionate about.
What more do you want to learn? Keep it simple.

Stay focused

Promote lively and healthy debate. Stay on topic. Ask questions and give feedback on the story's topic.

Report Trouble

Help us maintain a quality comment section by reporting comments that are offensive. If you see a comment that is offensive, or you feel violates our guidelines, simply click on the "x" to the far right of the comment to report it.


read the full guidelines here »

Commenting will be disabled on stories dealing with the following subject matter: Violent crime, sexual abuse, Amber Alerts, Operation Quickfinds and suicides.

More Good Stuff

What's On KCRG