Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 4, 1993 TAG: 9308040145
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUGLAS PARDUE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A 21-page indictment unsealed Tuesday in federal court in Roanoke accuses W.W. Bennett Hurt, one of Virginia's largest dealers in sick and old cattle, of flouting federal food and drug laws designed to protect people from eating drug-laced meat.
Hurt, 32, is accused of buying diseased cattle by telling farmers that the meat was for pet food when in fact the cattle were sold to a Lynchburg slaughterhouse specializing in meat for humans. The slaughterhouse is not alleged to have done anything wrong.
It is the first time a livestock dealer has been indicted on charges of violating laws controlling antibiotic levels in cattle.
Federal food and drug officials said there is nothing wrong with selling sick, old or "down" cattle for meat. The problem is that such cattle cannot be sold if they have high concentrations of drugs. The animals are not supposed to be sold for slaughter until they have been held long enough for the drugs to largely burn out of the animals' systems.
The laws were enacted in part because of uncertainty over how the drugs might affect people, especially those with allergies.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jean Hudson said Hurt was charged after he ignored repeated written warnings. Hurt also violated a federal court order banning him from selling livestock until he complied with certain control laws, the prosecutor said.
Despite the warnings and ban, the indictment says, Hurt told Food and Drug Administration officials that if they continued cracking down on him he would take tainted cattle to other slaughterhouses where inspectors couldn't track the animals.
Federal authorities said Hurt sold cattle to slaughterhouses in Virginia and several other states. None of the slaughterhouses or the farmers who sold to Hurt is accused of doing anything illegal.
The indictment involves only cattle sold to Dinner Bell Meat Products Inc. of Lynchburg, where federal inspectors conducted routine "stop tests" of each "down cow" that came in for slaughter. Down cows are cattle too sick, old or crippled to stand up. Only spot tests are made on cattle that can walk.
From 1989 to 1993, the indictment says, Hurt sold Dinner Bell more than 1,300 cows, using at least 29 fake farm names. At least 69 of the cows that were tested contained excessive levels of antibiotics, the indictment says.
Federal authorities said they have no way to check all animals sent to slaughter. Instead, inspectors have to rely on spot checks and dealers taking the time to let drugs wear off before selling animals to packing houses.
Some dealers might not wait that long for fear the animals would die and not be able to sold. Dealers also might not want to spend the money to feed and store the animals until they could be sold.
Hurt, who appeared in court wearing bib coveralls, declined to comment. He was released on bond pending trial. He faces a possible 31 years in prison on charges of conspiracy to violate food and drug laws and fraud.
by CNB