Jonathan Lane was arrested for allegedly tampering with the sausage links at the Johnsonville Sausage plant in Wisconsin. (Kenosha County Jail, inset; Reuters)
A worker at Wisconsin’s Johnsonville Sausage plant is facing prison time and hefty fines after he was allegedly caught placing foreign objects into sausage links during his shift.
Jonathan Lane, of Kiel, Wis., reportedly placed a piece of cigarette paper into one link on March 25, and a wire connecter into another on March 28, according to Fox 6 Now.
On both occasions, he pretended to have found the offending bits of trash himself after reporting on the contamination to his superiors, as per the criminal complaint.
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A subsequent review of the factory’s video surveillance cameras allegedly showed Lane himself placing the objects into the meat. He was arrested Friday, the Post Crescent reported.
Lane himself had reported the foreign objects in the meat, pretending he was the one who found them, according to a criminal complaint. (Kenosha County Jail)
Johnsonville confirmed that none of the contaminated sausages made it out of the plant, as the company had closed the processing facility to discard of any contaminated product before it left the building.
Matthew Krueger, a United States attorney for Wisconsin, lauded Johnsonville for its proactive approach, saying, “We commend Johnsonville Sausage, LLC. for its security measures and quick action to prevent any harm to consumers,” Krueger said.
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Lane has been charged with two counts of tampering with a consumer product, and acting with reckless disregard for the risk that another person would be placed in danger of death or bodily harm and manifesting an extreme disregard to such a risk, according to Fox 6 Now.
Lane could face up to 10 years in prison and $250,000 in fines — for each count — if convicted.