Prosecutors say Rubashkin is a flight risk

November 20, 2008

NEW YORK (JTA) -- Prosecutors have asked a federal judge to keep a senior Agriprocessors official in jail because he’s a flight risk.

At a hearing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, prosecutors said they found a travel bag packed with passports and $20,000 in cash and silver coins in the bedroom of Sholom Rubashkin after his arrest last week, The Associated Press reported. Rubashkin is also accused of tampering with evidence while free on bail after an earlier arrest.

Rubashkin is the former manager of the Agriprocessors meatpacking plant in Postville, Iowa, formerly the largest kosher meat facility in the United States. He was arrested late last month for harboring illegal immigrants and for document fraud.

Rubashkin was then re-arrested last week on bank fraud charges. A criminal complaint alleges he orchestrated a scheme to inflate the amount of money owed to Agriprocessors so as to enable the company to draw higher amounts on its credit line.

A judge was expected to rule Thursday on whether Rubashkin should remain in jail.

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