Rubashkin Testifies in Trial, Denies Charges

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)

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By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Nov 5, 2009 at 4:01 PM CST

Story Updated: Nov 5, 2009 at 11:11 PM CST

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - The former manager of an Iowa kosher meatpacking plant says he never intentionally violated federal laws but admits he made some mistakes.

Sholom Rubashkin faces 91 charges of bank, mail and wire fraud, money laundering and ignoring orders to pay cattle providers in the time required by federal law.

Rubashkin took the stand Thursday in his trial in U.S. District Court in Sioux Falls, S.D. He says questionable financial practices at the Agriprocessors Inc. plant in Postville, Iowa, can be blamed on his oversights or actions by other employees.

Rubashkin testified he never read an agreement for a $35 million line of credit to the plant before signing it. Former employees have testified that Rubashkin told a worker to falsify sales invoices to collect larger advances.

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