Man arrested for tampering with Johnsonville Sausage products at factory

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- An employee is facing charges after tampering with Johnsonville Sausage products at the company’s factory, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Jonathan Tilman Lane of Kiel was arrested and appeared in federal court in Milwaukee on Friday. Lane is facing charges of tampering with a consumer product.

A criminal complaint alleges that Lane placed foreign objects into sausage links on two separate occasions. The incidents happened on March 25 and 28.

Video surveillance showed Lane placing a cigarette paper in a sausage link on March 25. On March 28, Lane could be seen placing a wire connector in a sausage link while the product was on a processing line.

Both times, the items were removed before the sausage links were packaged. Johnsonville closed down the operation and discarded all products they believe could have been affected due to Lane’s actions.

Lane is charged with two counts of tampering with a consumer product and acting with reckless disregard for the risk that another person would be placed in danger of bodily harm or death. For each count, he faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.

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