Federal trial reset for Midamar founder accused in beef export scheme

CEDAR RAPIDS - The trial for Midamar Corp. founder William Aossey Jr., charged with 19 counts, involving misbranding Halal beef products and falsifying documents, was reset last week in federal court.

U.S. District Chief Judge Linda Reade granted the continuance and set the trial for March 9, as requested by Aossey. The government didn't resist the motion. The trial was previously set for late this month.

Aossey, 73, of Cedar Rapids, is charged with one count of conspiracy to make false statements, sell misbranded meat, and commit mail and wire fraud; seven counts of making or causing false statements to be made on export applications; seven counts of wire fraud; three counts of money laundering; and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Aossey chose to 'stand mute” last month when asked to enter a plea to the charges, and the court entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf, as allowed according to criminal procedure.

Haytham Faraj, Aossey's Chicago attorney, said in the motion the defense needed more time to develop familiarity with USDA regulations, the Halal food industry, Islamic dietary standards, and the meat and food packing industry standards, along with interviewing numerous witnesses and investigating possible defenses to the various charges alleged.

Faraj argued the government had apparently been investigating Aossey and his company since 2007 but didn't charge him until two months ago, and the defense needs additional time to prepare for trial.

According to the indictment, Aossey conspired and agreed with others known to the grand jury to commit violations of law within the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture by covering up material facts by a scheme, making false and fraudulent statements, making and using false documents, selling misbranded products and making false statements on export certificates. He and others also are accused of generating a variety of fabricated certificates, including export documents that contained falsified information concerning the source and nature of the beef products, according to the indictment. The false certificates were created to show the shipments complied with import requirements of the countries where the beef was shipped.

If Aossey is convicted on all counts, the conspiracy charge is punishable by up to five years in prison, each count of making a false statement on an export application is up to three years in prison, each count of wire fraud is up to 20 years in prison and each count of money laundering, including the money laundering conspiracy, is up to 20 years in prison.