Rubashkin Appeals Bail Denial

Attorneys for Sholom Rubashkin asked the court to impose additional conditions to ensure he does not flee before his still-undetermined sentencing date.

Rubashkin appeals bail denial
By JENS MANUEL KROGSTAD • Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier

CEDAR RAPIDS -- The former executive of Agriprocessors kosher meatpacking plant on Monday appealed a decision to deny him bail.

Attorneys for Sholom Rubashkin, 50, asked the court to impose additional conditions to ensure he does not flee before his still-undetermined sentencing date.

They urged U.S. District Chief Judge Linda Reade to consider more than 1,300 letters and e-mails of support, 43 homes worth more than $7 million offered as collateral from supporters, and letters from six rabbis who offered their Torahs in exchange for Rubashkin's release.

Other suggested measures include curfew, home detention, home incarceration and 24-hour armed surveillance.

Rubashkin has surrendered his driver's license, birth certificate and passport. His wife and children under also do not posses their birth certificates.

On Friday, Reade denied Rubashkin's bail request. A Sioux Falls, S.D. jury convicted him two weeks ago on 86 counts of bank, mail and wire fraud, money laundering and failure to pay livestock providers in a timely manner. He faces a maximum of 1,255 years in prison.

Reade noted Rubashkin committed bank fraud while free on bail a year ago, and coupled with the jury's verdict, prove to be "powerful incentives" for him to flee.

The fraud charges stem from a May 2008 immigration raid in which 389 employees were arrested.

Here is the entire brief in support of his motion as a PDF file:

Download Rubashkin Brief In Support Of Appeal of Detention Order 11-23-09

Here is the motion itself as a PDF file:

Download Rubashkin Motion To Appeal Detention Order 11-23-09