Food Safety and Inspection Service United States Department of Agriculture Washington, D.C. 20250-3700

News Release

Congressional and Public Affairs
 Liz Lapping (202) 720-9113

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2002--Hop Kee, Inc., a Chicago food distribution firm, and Thomas M. Lam, its chief executive officer, were sentenced March 13 in federal court for violating federal food safety inspection laws administered by the Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Food and Drug Administration.

This legal action is the result of the first joint prosecution between FSIS and FDA under a 1999 Memorandum of Understanding that was established to permit more efficient use of resources between the two food safety agencies and to improve public health protection. Also participating in the investigation were officials from the Illinois Departments of Agriculture, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the Chicago Public Health Department.

Thomas M. Lam, chief executive officer, was sentenced on two misdemeanor counts for storing adulterated poultry and food products. He was placed on probation for one year, fined $2,928, and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service.

Hop Kee, Inc. was sentenced on the same two misdemeanors, plus a felony count for selling adulterated poultry. Hop Kee pled guilty Sept. 26, 2001, in federal court and was ordered to serve four years' probation, pay special assessment fees of $650, and pay a $300,000 fine.

Special terms of Hop Kee's four year probation include:

• Repairing and maintaining its facilities in compliance with federal and state laws applicable to sanitation and pest control;

• Implementing a sanitation program and regularly checking and disposing of adulterated or spoiled meat and poultry products;

• Using an outside pest control service and consenting to periodic reviews by USDA and FDA of the records and recommendations of the service;

• Notifying the court or probation department of any material change in its financial condition, such as bankruptcy, criminal prosecution, or civil litigation.

Sentencing for Hop Kee, Inc. and Thomas M. Lam was in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

The defendants stored approximately 98,000 pounds of meat and poultry products under insanitary conditions and sold adulterated poultry products in commerce. An additional 87,000 pounds of food products under the jurisdiction of FDA were also held under insanitary conditions, causing them to become adulterated. The conditions included live and dead rats, cockroaches, birds, as well as rodent nests, excreta, and rodent-gnawed food products. 

For Further Information, Contact:
FSIS Congressional and Public Affairs Staff
Phone: (202) 720-9113
Fax: (202) 690-0460

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