Business
Business

Peanut exec, facing prison risk in salmonella case, already wants out

By Matt Kempner
Sept 21, 2015

Stewart Parnell, the former owner of Peanut Corporation of America, is maneuvering to stay out of prison on appeal even as his sentencing hearing starts today in what could be a watershed case for food safety.

Last year, jurors found Parnell guilty on dozen of counts, including fraud and conspiracy tied to a salmonella outbreak that had Americans dumping peanut products from their homes in 2009. Nine people died and more than 700 fell ill after eating products tied to Parnell’s company. Jurors concluded he intentionally shipped out tainted peanut products from one of his plants in South Georgia.

Parnell could be hammered with a sentence tougher than what many white collar criminals get.

On Monday, the day his sentencing hearing was slated to start in south Georgia, Parnell’s attorney’s filed a motion seeking his release on bond from custody pending an appeal he plans to file. They argue Parnell isn’t a flight risk or a danger to the community and that the appeal is not being made solely for the purpose of delay.

To find out why Parnell's attorney says he shouldn't get hard time and what usually happens in white collar cases, check out the AJC's Unofficial Business column on myAJC.com.

About the Author

Matt Kempner is an award-winning journalist who seeks out intriguing twists about people and subjects beyond what the AJC might typically cover. A former columnist and editor, his past assignments have included business investigations, energy, the economy, entrepreneurs, big business, consumer spending, politics, government and the environment.

Follow Matt Kempner on facebookFollow Matt Kempner on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

BioTouch, a company that manufactures medical testing kits, announced an expansion to its Columbus operations in December 2025. This is a courtesy photo of BioTouch's sample collection products. (Courtesy of BioTouch)

Credit: Courtesy of BioTouch

Medical company announces expansion in Columbus with 480 jobs

A medical logistics company that makes health care kits announced an expansion plan for its Columbus operations, which will add 480 new jobs to the region.

What you need to know about the Netflix bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery

The blockbuster deal, totaling about $72 billion, will create a combined portfolio of many of Hollywood’s best known properties.

AI is reshaping fintech jobs. Georgia is building the talent to match.

Financial technology is the backbone of commerce and a pillar of Georgia’s economy, and it’s one that could be disrupted by artificial intelligence.

The Latest

A new kind of hybrid, called e-Power, is coming to the U.S. from Nissan. Courtesy of Nissan

Credit: Courtesy of Nissan

OPINION

Nissan’s e-Power: An EV driving experience, fueled by gas

OPINION

December car sales are good but not magic

In the market for a luxury vehicle? You might reconsider Lincoln.

Featured

Ceudy Gutierrez reads a book to her 2-year-old son, Matias, at their home in Buford, GA, on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. Ceudy Gutierrez is struggling to make ends meet for herself and her three young kids following her husband’s ICE arrest earlier this fall. (Miguel Martinez/ AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

When ICE takes breadwinners, it takes a toll on families ... and on the economy

For immigrant families, brushes with ICE can result in financial precarity that could have implications for the broader economy.

‘I’m a bad kid,’ he told himself. How Georgia’s special ed program failed one child.

Parents find that it's easy to get into the GNETS program, but in some districts, difficult to leave.

‘A lot of blame, but not enough action’: Atlanta leaders lack path to fix jail

Stakeholders across Atlanta and Fulton County grapple with a complex web of issues that contribute to overcrowding, crumbling structure.