After years of rumours and allegations, Big Chicken is now on trial. A group of 10 executives and employees of top US poultry companies — including two former CEOs — are facing criminal antitrust charges in a trial getting under way this week in Denver. They face prison and million-dollar fines if convicted for fixing prices and rigging bids over nearly a decade.
More than 30 lawyers and defendants crowded into a federal court in Denver on Monday to select 12 jurors and two alternates. US district judge Philip Brimmer told them the case may run until December 21, not counting deliberations. The jury will be asked to decide whether the executives agreed to co-ordinate pricing and bids to limit competition.
Former Pilgrim’s Pride CEOs Jayson Penn and William Lovette face charges they conspired with other industry employees and officials to fix prices and rig bidding from 2012 to early 2019. All the defendants face charges of conspiring to restrain trade. Little is also charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly lying to federal agents. That charge has a top penalty of 20 years in prison if he’s convicted.
Prosecutors have already released text messages, emails and phone transcripts showing how the executives colluded on prices, and the evidence presented to the jury could provide even more details.