Catherwood LibraryILR School

After approximately five hours of deliberation, a Federal District Court jury acquitted poultry titan Tyson Foods of allegations of smuggling illegal immigrants into the country and providing them with false documentation in order to exploit them for cheap labor (see WIT for Feb. 3, 2003). The twelve charges of conspiracy, transportation of illegal immigrants, and document fraud brought against the corporation in 2001---as well as similar charges the jury acquitted three current and former managers of---were the result of a four year investigation. Jurors decided that government prosecutors failed to make the case that the criminal behavior of three other Tyson managers who plead guilty to immigration law violations were widespread and condoned within the company.