TYLER, TX –  United States Attorney John M. Bales announced today that both William B. Marcus and his company, Marcus Food Company (MFC), have pleaded guilty to the charge of selling misbranded meat products during a hearing before United States Magistrate Judith K. Guthrie.

            A single count information was filed April 23, 2012.  According to information presented in court, on or about January 10, 2007, in the Eastern District of Texas, and elsewhere, Marcus sold approximately 40,000 pounds of 50% trimmings de-sinewed meat product that John Soules Foods Inc. had sold to Marcus with the instruction that a portion of the meat should be sold as pet food.

            Marcus then re-sold the meat for use as human consumption, and the meat product was misbranded at the time of the sale, in that the meat was accompanied by a Marcus Food Company Invoice with no reference to the manufacturer’s instruction that a portion of the meat product was to be sold as pet food. 

            Marcus was sentenced to pay a $1,000.00 fine.  His company, MFC, was ordered to pay restitution to the Federal Bureau of Prisons in the amount of $88,282.50.

            This case was investigated by the Office of the Inspector General - United States Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General - United States Department of Justice and the Food Safety and Inspection Service - United States Department of Agriculture. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.

####

Return to Top