PITTSBURGH - A Pittsburgh resident pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of transporting poultry without inspection, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
Xia Vue, 84, of Pittsburgh, PA, pleaded guilty to one count before Senior United States District Judge Maurice B. Cohill.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Vue had been slaughtering poultry at a dilapidated residential home and was selling the poultry in commerce to retail markets and individual customers. The poultry products sold by the defendant had not been inspected by the United States Department of Agriculture, as required by law.
Judge Cohill scheduled sentencing for Feb. 18, 2016. The law provides for a total sentence of one year in prison, a fine of $1000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court continued the defendant on bond.
Assistant United States Attorney Tonya Sulia Goodman is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Xia Vue.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
