SAN FRANCISCO (JTA) — The former chief financial officer of the defunct Agriprocessors kosher meatpacking plant pleaded guilty to conspiracy.
As part of a plea bargain, Mitchel Meltzer admitted Monday in U.S. District Court in Iowa 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 whose initials are S.R.
Sholom Rubashkin, former Agriprocessors manager, is awaiting federal trial on a slew of charges, including allegations that he lied to a St. Louis bank to obtain the loan advance. Rubashkin has pleaded innocent to all charges. His trial begins Oct. 13.
Meltzer was the latest former Agriprocessors employee to reach a plea bargain with federal prosecutors. His plea follows one in August by former financial employee Yomtov Bensasson, who was facing the same charges.
Meltzer is free on bail pending sentencing. He now works at a private tax and accounting firm.
