Former Supervisor Testifies He Was Told To Hide Underage Workers From State

A former supervisor at a kosher slaughterhouse raided by federal agents testified Monday that when child labor inspectors toured the facility, he took two workers he thought were underage and hid them in the basement. Griffith said his boss told him to hide the underage workers.

Former slaughterhouse supervisor says boss ordered underage workers hidden during inspections

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A former supervisor at a kosher slaughterhouse raided by federal agents testified Monday that when child labor inspectors toured the facility, he took two workers he thought were underage and hid them in the basement.

Former supervisor Brian Griffith testified Monday against former plant manager Sholom Rubashkin, who is being tried on 83 counts of child labor violations. The charges followed a May 2008 raid at the former Agriprocessors plant in Postville where 389 illegal immigrants, including children, were detained.

Griffith said his boss told him to hide underage workers.

One of the workers he hid, Mario Perez Marroquin, testified earlier Monday that he worked at the plant for two summers while he was in high school and then worked there full-time until the immigration raid.

On cross-examination, he said federal agents didn't initially believe him when he said he was a minor, but he was released to his family after he showed identification proving his age.

Another child laborer told jurors he injured his right hand when it got caught in a conveyor belt on the plant's chicken line. Gerardo Solovi Perez said after workers bandaged his finger and put a glove on the hand, supervisors told him to get back to work.

Perez, who was 17 when federal agents raided the plant, told jurors he had to get a false Guatemalan birth certificate and fake resident alien card to land a job at the plant. Those documents said he was born in 1986, instead of 1991, he said.

Prosecutors said they expected to call their last witnesses Tuesday.

Rubashkin was scheduled to be sentenced Thursday in federal court on 86 counts of financial fraud, but U.S. District Court Judge Linda Reade on Monday delayed sentencing in the federal case until June 22 because Rubashkin's state trial is expected to last the rest of the week.

Prosecutors have asked for a 25-year sentence in the federal case. Defense attorneys wants a six-year sentence.

If convicted in state court, Rubashkin faces 30 days in jail for each child labor violation.

Comments

[itchiemayer]

Shmarya - I am curious to know how you think the trial is going thus far. It seems to me that the prosecution has not put on a strong case, and I am no fan of SMR.

[Shmarya]

I've been telling people for a very long time that Iowa did not have the capacity to do a good job.

I know of witnesses not called and of issues not raised.

I think the prosecution has done a poor job and was ill prepared.

And this was no surprise.

[yidandahalf]

Hiring children for this hell work, yet his family trots out their autistic boy at every turn. These Rubash-ins are simply the most vulgarly evil people in the public eye today. They have absolutely no shame. Truly a low class act. As the saying goes Sham Wow "got it honest". The old man spawned a nest of parasites for which there is no name.

[Dr Moe]

These Rubash-ins are simply the most vulgarly evil people in the public eye today. They have absolutely no shame

Just because Rabbi Morris Alen and his small groupie hates Rubashkin, does not mean the whole world hates Rubashkin, besides prove to us 1 Normal witness that proves Sholom Rubashkin Knew there were minors in the plant? Just 1?!!!!

[Bill]

I'm puzzled as to why the state didn't charge SMR with child endangerment as separate offenses.

They certaintly seem to have enough for a case.

Anyone?

[WoolSilkCotton]

http://www.israel613.com/PICTURES/RUBASHKIN_A.JPG

[Dave]

Unless the final witnesses can directly testify as to SMR's knowledge, the state has delivered a very weak case.

[FormerPostvillian]

"...besides prove to us 1 Normal witness that proves Sholom Rubashkin Knew there were minors in the plant? Just 1?!!!!"

Ok, how about his brother Heshy?

[Dr Moe]

Dave,

Dont worry you and Rabbi Morris Allen and his his groupie, will have plenty to celebrate at Wendy’s after June 22 drinking Sholom Rubashkin blood!!

[OMG]

Sorry Dave, beyond a reasonable doubt, will be met, reasonable people (definitely not you and Moe) would conclude that Agri business model was to employ Illegal’s and minors. It is true that the illegal issue is not part of this trial but from the testimony the Jury could come to the conclusion that even if SMR wasn’t charged with that crime but that it was a fact that Agri employed illegal’s and the judge will point out during jury instructions that they only could consider that if it goes to the defendant state of mind, on how he operated his company. Believe me he is toast, but you cannot see it yet, because your mind is not capable to foresee how during the summation the government will tie all the different bits and pieces together for the jury.

[WoolSilkCotton]

Dr. Moe, what a bizarre perverted view you have of things.

Who is this Rabbi Morris Allen? Nobody anywhere mentions him, just you. And who goes to Wendy's to celebrate anything but a pre-school birthday?
And does anything equate with drinking someone's blood? Only in your Crown Heights brainwashed mind. So sorry for you. Serving time in prison happens to a lot of hasidic Jews, including other members of the Rubashkin Crime Family. It's not that big of a deal for a Rubashkin to serve time in prison. You are more worried about it than any Rubashkin is.

Happy June 22! It will be the longest day of the year, especially in Crown Heights!

[shmaryahu is like paroh [loves to bathe in jewish blood]

shmaryahu,you dirty rat,you piece of human garbage, what do you want from this family? didn't you drink enough of their blood?
i have no doubt at all,have you lived 65 yrs ago in Europe,you would have been the head KAPO in Auschwitz,and with a smile on your ugly face you would have dragged your own brothers and sisters into the gas chambers

[state of disgust]

Dr. Moe,
Your obsession with Rabbi Allen is truly amazing. First it was PETA. Then it was the "unions." Now its Rabbi Allen. Seems everyone is to blame except the guilty party.
That is call scapegoating.
It is always someones fault, just not the perps.
And, stop the bs about not being a supporter of Rubashkin. Your his number one fan and have been since you started posting here.