Farmers to be sentenced in fatal listeria outbreak
DENVER (AP) — Two Colorado cantaloupe farmers who pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a deadly listeria outbreak in 2011 are set to be sentenced.
Brothers Eric and Ryan Jensen are scheduled to be sentenced in Denver federal court Tuesday. They pleaded guilty last year to misdemeanor counts of introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce.
Relatives of seven of the 33 people killed in the outbreak testified during the sentencing hearing, with some asking for probation but others asking for prison time for the brothers.
The Jensens have asked for probation, saying jail time is excessive because justice has been served with the imposition of new food guidelines.
Prosecutors also are asking for probation, in part because the brothers met with the families of many of the victims and assisted in the investigation.
