Grant Schulte – Des Moines Register
Lawyers for former eastern Iowa slaughterhouse executive Sholom Rubashkin asked a judge Friday to sentence their client to no more than six years in prison.
Rubashkin’s legal team argued in court papers that the former Postville meat plant officer “lost his way” and did not personally profit from a fraud scheme
and use of illegal immigrant workers at Agriprocessors Inc.
Rubashkin was convicted in November of 86 fraud-related crimes for his part in a scheme to falsify bank and sales records. Prosecutors had charged
him with 91 counts including bank, mail and wire fraud, false statements to a bank, and failing to pay cattle providers in the time required by law.
Prosecutors indicated in December that they would recommend a 21- to 27-year prison term for Rubashkin.
The suggested sentence — which a judge can accept or ignore — is based on federal guidelines that consider the number of victims, Rubashkin’s specific role in the crime and other factors.
U.S. District Chief Judge Linda Reade has set a two-day sentence hearing for Rubashkin on April 28 and 29 in Cedar Rapids. Rubashkin has been held
without bond in the Linn County Jail.
In court papers, defense lawyers said Rubashkin has lived a life of “selfless contributions to both the Jewish community and the greater community at
large.”
His attorneys also pointed to an online petition with 16,000 names that asks for a “compassionate and merciful sentence.”
“He didn’t rob, steal or cheat anyone,” said defense lawyer Guy Cook. “It’s not a bank robbery. It was motivated by honoring his father, which is a big part of his religion . . . and trying to keep his father’s business afloat.”
i agree 100%! i dont mean to condemn, but how can the lawyers be allowed to be asking “just” for six years?! where is the Emunah in what the Rebbe said that we will walk out from this story WONDERING WHY WE WORRIED SO MUCH! of course we have to Daven and say tehillim, but our emunah and bitachon must MUST permeate the way we act in the courthouse! DONT tell me i am walking with my head in the clouds; that we must give in to the justice system and ask for just six years, because DO YOU THINK… Read more »
youre right its very sad may hashem help
now there is over 25,000 ppl who signed look at that how klal yisrael cares about him hello what are thest prosecuters thinking he is totally innocent he did nothing bad why does he have to suffer like this its not right!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IT IS SAD THAT WE HAVE MORE HITTLERS AROUND
IN AMERICA WE CAME TO HAVE PEACE AND JUSTICE
WHERE DID IT GO?
I’ll tell you why.
Im in a class where a lot of people dont have internet access. They really want to sign but they cant. They should make a way you sign through the phone or by mail. Other people delete all emails that arent from people they know. They need to figure out a way that those two types of people can sign.
on the petition website it says there are 23,000 names signed
LEMRICK NELSON YM”S GOT ONLY 10 YEARS.
I am a kid and I signed.
Everybody hurry up and sign!
SO DO SOMETHING! WHY DONT U ORGANIZE A MARCH IN WASHINGTON? WHAT MAKES YOU THINK SOMEONE ELSE READING YOUR COMMENT WILL???
The case of Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin will go down in history as the first blood libel in America. Yes there were some mistakes made under immense pressure but there was no criminal intent to cause the bank any loss and there was no personal gain. If this story did not unfold in IA, there would never have been a story. This is a story about Anti-Semitism . The fact that the Jewish community is not marching on Washington and is just sitting quiet is outrageous. The government is asking for life in prison and the Probation report calculated the guidlines… Read more »
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/fair-and-equal-justice-for-sholom-rubashkin
HE SHOULD GET OUT NOW!!!!!!!!
Where are the people who organized the vote fc drive?
Surely they can see Sholom Mordechai at least equal to a physically/mentally handicapped person, no?
I did not receive a single e-mail from them, or a freeze or whatever.
C’mon guys, be fair get the ball rolling!
6 years? No way. Too much already.
Someone explain to me what this petition is all about?
Whatever the sentence, isn’t he going to appeal? I assume that the appeal will happen within the year, no?
Since, after reading much material, it seems he is completely innocent and those that prosecuted him are COMPLETELY GUILTY, he should, BE”H, be out of jail within a year.
Hopefully he will sue and win a huge fortune.
Perhaps he’ll have enough to start 10 plants, in the same place, 9 times bigger than the original one! (I’m a Gematria Fanatic)
http://justiceforsholom.org/
take out your simcha lists call your friends offer to do it for them sign sign sign and then Daven somthing has to help
Martin Grossman ob”m received national attention and hundreds of thousands of people’s time. It was a needed effort and Kiddush Hashem. L’havdil – The defense team of a fellow, selfless Chosid points the Judge’s attention to a petition of 16,000 signatures? Shouldn’t that number be 160,000?! Wake up Yidden!!!!
it certainly willl help and so will davening and tehillim -hashem yaazor
people can keep signing up its up to 21 thousand.it will help by sentencing.this case will iyh be appealed.the jury was not permitted to hear the defense witness’.
it is just sicking me 2 think that they r so many ppl out in the world who didn’t signed, it only takes a couple of second 2 do….ppl please this men can not b in prison not even 4 6 years, it just can not happen!!!!!!
Six years is insane!! The memo issued by the legal team itself says that a similar financial issues got people ONE year. Why is the defense DEFENSE? asking for Six, rachmona litzlan?
What is going on here?
how do you sine
and for a yeshua for klal yisroel and for moshiach
such a chutzpah, hes innocent…..r”l if he gets another day
If that is the minumim, then that is teriable, and i really hope g-d changes his mind, cuz that is outright teriablle!
Why on earth are there only 16000 people that signed, there are so many more lubavitch people. Just think about all the people that live in Crown Heights! Why aren’t people signing, this guy does not deserve more than one day in prison, and his family has gone through enough suffering!
May hashem help right now, and with the brochos of the rebbe there should be a didan natzach right now!!!