CEDAR RAPIDS – The owner of Iowa-based Midamar Corp. has been indicted on fraud charges related to his beef exporting business.
William B. Aossey, Jr., 73, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been charged with one count of conspiracy to make false statements, sell misbranded meat, and commit mail and wire fraud; seven counts of making or causing false statements to be made on export applications; seven counts of wire fraud; three counts of money laundering; and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The charges are contained in an Indictment filed last evening in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids. The indictment also contains two forfeiture allegations for proceeds and property involved in some of the offenses.
The conspiracy charge is punishable by up to five years imprisonment; each count of making a false statement on an export application is punishable by up to three years imprisonment; each count of wire fraud is punishable by up to twenty years imprisonment; and each count of money laundering, including the money laundering conspiracy, is punishable by up to twenty years imprisonment. A fine of up to $250,000 may also be imposed on each count, along with a term of supervised release.
As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard L. Murphy and was investigated by the Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service.
