The problem I have with this case is, what did Rubashkin actually do that was criminal? We are in the state of affairs Ayn Rand predicted, where there are so many laws that even honest citizens can't help but break some if they conduct extensive business. (I am NOT a big fan of Ayn Rand!)
Whatever his crime, 27 years, on top of full restitution, is the kind of sentence I'd like to see handed down to rapists, kidnappers and aggravated assualts. There would have to be ruined lives in the wake of Mr. Rubashkin's crimes to justify 27 years. That's about 1/3 of a lifetime!
Bank/wire fraud. Without going into details, he lied on various financial statements and representations to his bank in order to obtain financing after the company was in financial trouble. He deserves prision time, but sentences should be proportional to the crime, and other violators.
Read up on it. He has been violating health laws for years...child labor laws...hiring illegals.
They always just gotten wrist slaps and continued to ignore all the laws.
They were pretty much "in your face" about the violations over the years and nobody thought he'd ever have to pay for the crimes.