SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A Puerto Rico businessman has pleaded guilty to selling thousands of pounds (kilograms) of putrid pork in the U.S. territory for more than a year.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office says Jose Suarez of Joshua Enterprises Inc. could face up to three years in prison after pleading guilty Wednesday to selling meat products unfit for human consumption.
Authorities say he sold putrid pork products from April 2009 to October 2010 after buying nearly 53,000 pounds (24,040 kilograms) of pork shoulders knowing they had been exposed to warm temperatures. He agreed to destroy some remaining 12,000 pounds (5,400 kilograms) of pork after the U.S. Department of Agriculture sampled it and found it unfit for human consumption.
Officials say they were not informed of anyone who became ill from eating the pork.
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