Midamar and ISA Admit to Conspiring to Commit Fraud
Midamar Corporation (Midamar), a distributor of Halal foods, and ISA Inc. and Islamic Services of America, Inc., (collectively ISA) a globally recognized Halal certifier, both of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, each pleaded guilty this afternoon in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids to one count of conspiracy to commit the following federal offenses: mail and wire fraud; covering up material facts by a scheme; making and using false statements and documents in a matter within the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture; making false statements on export certificates with the intent to defraud; and selling misbranded meat in interstate commerce with the intent to defraud.
Midamar’s guilty plea was entered by its Treasurer and a corporate director, Yahya Nasser Aossey. ISA’s guilty plea was entered by its President, Secretary, registered agent, and corporate director Jalel Aossey.
The conspiracy charge is punishable by: (1) a term of probation of at least one year but not more than five years; (2) a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the gross gain or loss resulting from the offense, whichever is greater; and (3) a mandatory special assessment of $400.
In addition, each business has agreed to the entry of a judgment of forfeiture in the amount of $600,000 as representing proceeds derived from wire fraud.
A sentencing date has not yet been set.
Midamar and ISA’s founder, William B. Aossey, Jr., was convicted by a jury in July on related charges and is currently detained at the Linn County Jail, awaiting sentencing.
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 Office of Investigations, and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 14-CR-00138-LRR.
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
