A former peanut executive convicted of knowingly selling salmonella-tainted food that killed nine people and sickened hundreds of others was sentenced Monday to 28 years in prison.
Stewart Parnell, the 61-year-old former head of the Peanut Corporation of America, had faced a possible life sentence after being convicted in September 2014 for selling peanuts from his Georgia plant to food processors despite knowing that they were tainted with salmonella.
As a result of his actions, nine people died and more than 700 others were sickened in 2008 and 2009.
A jury last year also found him guilty of falsifying lab records to cover up the contamination.
The U.S. Probation Office had recommended that Parnell get life in prison for his role in the outbreak, something his attorney called "unprecedented" and "truly absurd."
Also sentenced on Monday were Parnell's brother, Michael, and office manager, Mary Wilkerson.
Michael Parnell — who like his brother was convicted last year of multiple counts of conspiracy, mail and wire fraud, and the sale of misbranded food — got 20 years in prison, according to the Department of Justice. Wilkerson — convicted of obstruction of justice — got five years in prison.
In a statement Monday, Benjamin C. Mizer, principal deputy assistant attorney general in charge of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, applauded the sentences.
"Today’s sentencing sends a powerful message to officials in the food industry that they stand in a special position of trust with the American consumer, and those who put profit above the welfare of their customers and knowingly sell contaminated food will face serious consequences," Mizer said.
The outbreak prompted a massive food recall and, according to the Centers for Disease Control, Parnell's customers suffered an estimated $144 million in losses.
The court found that Stewart Parnell and Wilkerson should be held accountable for more than $100 million, but less than $200 million in losses, and Michael Parnell should be held accountable for more than $20 million, but less than $50 million in losses, according to the DOJ.