USDA Issues a Packers and Stockyards Complaint Against Jeremy Anderson, Hillel Shaman and Abe’s Kosher Meats LLC

WASHINGTON, July 20, 2020 – As part of its commitment to ensuring fair and competitive markets for the livestock, meat and poultry industries, on July 10, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a complaint and notice of hearing against Jeremy Anderson, Hillel Shaman, and Abe’s Kosher Meats LLC (Abe’s Kosher Meats) of Burley, Idaho, for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act. 

An investigation by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service revealed that from May through December 2018, Abe’s Kosher Meats failed to pay and failed to pay timely for 235 livestock purchases totaling  $723,687. Of this amount, $573,651 remained unpaid to the sellers of livestock at the time the complaint was issued.

The investigation also revealed that Abe’s Kosher Meats weighed beef carcasses using a monorail scale that was not equipped with a printing device to record weight values. Additionally, Abe’s Kosher Meats deducted six pounds from the hot weight of every beef carcass and paid livestock sellers based on the reduced weights.

Failure to properly record hot carcass weights and failure to make a settlement and final payment for livestock purchased on a carcass weight or carcass grade and weight basis on actual hot weights are violations of the P&S Act.

The P&S Act authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to assess civil penalties up to $28,061 per violation against any person after the notice and opportunity for hearing on the record. If the allegations are admitted or proven in an oral hearing, Abe’s Kosher Meats may be ordered to cease and desist from continuing violations of the P&S Act and assessed a civil penalty.

The P&S Act is a fair-trade practice and payment protection law that promotes fair and competitive marketing environments for the livestock, meat, and poultry industries.

For further information about the Packers and Stockyards Act, contact Stuart Frank, Packers and Stockyards Division, at (515) 323-2586, or by email at stuart.frank@usda.gov.

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