-Caveat Lector-
"Department of Agriculture inspectors are accused of routinely taking
bribes from food wholesalers. The inspectors' unfavorable ratings forced
growers to reduce the asking price of produce, thereby increasing the profit
margin of wholesalers."
Food Inspectors Accused of Bribery
By LARRY NEUMEISTER
.c The Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) - Small farmers nationwide were victimized by eight federal
inspectors who accepted thousands of dollars in bribes to lower grades on
produce at a huge wholesale market in New York City, authorities said
Wednesday.
The eight current and former inspectors were among 21 people charged with
racketeering and bribery in the marketing of fruit and vegetables at the
Hunts Point Terminal Market in the Bronx.
An investigation named ``Operation Forbidden Fruit'' revealed a two-decade
long bribery scheme. Indictments accused 13 owners and employees of 12 fruit
and vegetable wholesalers with federal crimes.
The Department of Agriculture inspectors are accused of routinely taking
bribes from wholesalers in exchange for finding that certain fruits and
vegetables delivered to the market were not of the quality promised in
contracts.
The findings allowed wholesalers to demand that growers charge thousands of
dollars less, authorities said.
``The benefits to the wholesalers were obvious. They were routinely getting
Grade A produce at Grade B prices and it was a safe bet they were not passing
the benefits to the consumers,'' said FBI Assistant Director Lewis Schiliro.
Some of the inspectors made more than $100,000 a year in bribes to supplement
annual salaries of $38,000 to $48,000, Schiliro said.
If convicted of racketeering, they could face up to 20 years in prison. The
wholesalers could face up to 15 years in prison on the bribery charges.
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