ALBANY, GA. — Daniel Kilgore and Samuel Lightsey, both former operations managers at the Peanut Corporation of America’s Blakely, Ga., processing plant, were sentenced to prison on Oct. 1. Mr. Kilgore was sentenced to 5 years in prison and Mr. Lightsey received a sentence of 3 years.
Both pleaded guilty to conspiracy, mail and wire fraud, and the sale of misbranded and adulterated food. Additionally, both served as witnesses in the 2014 trial of Stewart Parnell, 61, the former owner and president of P.C.A.; Michael Parnell, Stewart Parnell’s brother, who worked at P.P. Sales and was a food broker who worked on behalf of P.C.A.; and Mary Wilkerson, who held various positions at PCA’s Blakely plant.
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| Benjamin C. Mizer, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division |
“Today’s sentences are a just result,” said Benjamin C. Mizer, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “They reflect the roles that the defendants played in these terrible acts, their acceptance of responsibility for those roles, and their willingness to assist the government, albeit after the fact, in ensuring that all of those who engaged in criminal activity were held accountable. The Department of Justice will continue to work aggressively with its partners to ensure that the American people are protected from food that is adulterated or misbranded.”
On Sept. 21, Stewart Parnell was sentenced to serve 28 years in prison, Michael Parnell was sentenced to 20 years, and Ms. Wilkerson was sentenced to serve 5 years.
