(Photo courtesy Channel 13, WHO-TV)
The former C-E-O of a Kosher meat-processing company in northeast Iowa has had his prison sentenced commuted by President Donald Trump.
Sholom Rubashkin was convicted of bank fraud, after an immigration raid at Agriprocessors plant in Postville, in 2008. The raid attracted national media attention at the time, and involved a large number of workers at the plant.
He was sentenced to 27-years in federal prison, for his role in creating fake documents to get bank loans.
The action means he'll be on supervised release, and must pay restitution. The action does not vacate his conviction.
Rubashkin's attorneys have filed several appeals since the conviction, even asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case. They claimed the district judge in the case had a conflict of interest, because she met with authorities who were planning the immigration raid.
Rubashkin’s lawyers also say the sentence was too harsh for a non-violent first time offender.
Wednesday, The White House issued a statement that President Trump had commuted Rubashkin’s sentence.
It cited bipartisan support for the action from legislators, including Rep. Steve King of Iowa, and former Department of Justice officials. The statement also mentioned the disparity in sentencing for the case as compared with sentencing in similar cases.
Rubashkin has served more than eight years in prison.