Mitchel Meltzer, the former chief financial officer of the defunct Agriprocessors kosher meatpacking plant, pleaded guilty to conspiracy Sept. 28 in U.S. District Court in Iowa. As part of a plea bargain, Meltzer admitted that he conspired to make false statements to a bank.
According to the Des Moines Register, Meltzer signed papers in February 2008 overstating the value of the plant’s collateral so its owners could obtain an advance on a $35 million loan. Prosecutors allege that he conspired with another person identified by the initials S.R.
Sholom Rubashkin, former Agriprocessors CEO, is awaiting federal trial on a slew of charges. He has pleaded innocent to all charges. His trial begins Oct. 13.
Meltzer is free on bail pending sentencing. He now works at a private tax and accounting firm. — jta