Paul W. Kruse, former CEO of Blue Bell Creameries accepted an Information filing on May 1 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) of federal felony charges alleging he conspired with others at Blue Bell to cover up unsanitary conditions that caused the deadly listeria outbreak.
He is also charged with six counts of wire fraud and attempted wire fraud. If convicted on all charges, Kruse could be sentenced to up to 20 years on each count and fines totaling USD1m.
Paul W. Kruse took over the roles of president and chairman in 2004 and stepped down in 2017. He was hailed for practicing “stellar crisis communications” in bringing the iconic Texas company through the worst troubles in its history when it sickened ten customers and killed three with deadly listeriosis.
At the end of April, Blue Bell agreed to pay USD15m to settle with shareholders who sued, charging mismanagement in the 2015 listeria outbreak.