Dianne Smith (202) 720-6915
                                           diannes@oig.usda.gov

SLAUGHTERHOUSE OWNER AND EMPLOYEES SENTENCED FOR FEDERAL MEAT INSPECTION ACT
VIOLATIONS

     WASHINGTON, May 26, 1998--U.S. Department of Agriculture Inspector
General Roger C. Viadero announced today that the owner and three employees of
Allen Mills Fresh Meats have been sentenced in federal court in Pittsburgh to
probation terms and ordered to pay fines for their convictions of violating
the Federal Meat Inspection Act.

     Lee H. Himes, age 53, of Mayport, Pa., owner of Allen Mills Fresh Meats,
a federally inspected meat slaughtering and processing facility in
Reynoldsville, Pa., and the Himes Country Market, a retail store in Mayport,
Pa., was sentenced to five years probation and fined $1,000.

     Bradley Lockwood, age 27, also of Mayport, was a supervisor at Allen
Mills Fresh Meats during the time of the offense.  He was sentenced to three
years probation and ordered to pay a $500 fine.

     Joseph E. Alderton, age 37, of Reynoldsville, and Robert A. Palmer, age
28, of Brookville, Pa., were each ordered to serve two years probation and pay
a $500 fine.  Both were employees of Allen Mills Fresh Meats.

     According to Viadero, Himes, Lockwood, Alderton and Palmer violated the
Federal Meat Inspection Act by allowing uninspected cattle and swine to enter
Allen Mills Fresh Meats, a federally inspected meat slaughtering and
processing facility, and by slaughtering and preparing cattle and swine
outside of the presence of a federal meat inspector.

     Himes and his employees slaughtered 3-D cattle; that is, cattle which
were dying, down, or diseased.  The illegal slaughtering occurred during
evening hours, after the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service inspector
left the premises.  The unwholesome  meat was commingled with federally
inspected meat and sold as federally inspected product, such as bologna, beef
sticks and Jerky.  In addition, the hearts and tongues of uninspected cattle
were made into summer sausage, bologna, ground meat, or kielbasa.  The
uninspected meat products were sold at the Himes Country Market.
        
     "We will continue to vigorously pursue criminal prosecution of those who
willfully contaminate our nation's food supply," Viadero said.

     This investigation was conducted by Special Agents of USDA's Office of
Inspector General and Compliance Officers of the Food Safety and Inspection
Service.  The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney for the
Western District of Pennsylvania.
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