On June 3, 2020, the Department of Justice (DOJ) indicted executives from Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation and Claxton Poultry Farms—two of the country’s largest chicken producers. The criminal action was filed in the District of Colorado, where Pilgrim’s Pride is headquartered. The individuals criminally charged are Pilgrim’s President and CEO, Jayson Penn and former Vice President, Roger Austin, as well as Claxton’s President, Mikell Fries, and Vice President, Scott Brady.
Continue Reading Chicken Industry Executives Indicted for Criminal Price-Fixing and Bid Rigging
Atlantic Salmon Producers Netted by DOJ
This month, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) opened a criminal investigation into collusive behavior among some of the largest producers of Atlantic salmon. This inquiry follows the DOJ’s June announcement of its separate investigation into the chicken industry.
Atlantic salmon producers implicated by the investigation include Grieg Seafood, SalMar, Leroy Seafood Group, and Mowi. The launch of the U.S. inquiry comes on the heels of the European Commission’s (EC) announcement of an investigation into the Atlantic salmon industry following a series of raids at the facilities of several prominent producers. The EC stated it had “concerns that the inspected companies may have violated E.U. antitrust rules that prohibit cartels and restrictive business practices.”