Couple pleads guilty in toxic pet food case

Sally Qing Miller, 43, and her husband, Stephen S. Miller, 56, along with their company, Chemnutra Inc., pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of selling adulterated food and one count of selling misbranded food, both misdemeanors.

They initially were charged with 13 counts of introduction of adulterated food into interstate commerce, 13 counts of introduction of misbranded food into interstate commerce and one felony count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

The charges were contained in a February 2008 federal indictment that alleged the Millers and ChemNutra, along with two Chinese companies, brought wheat gluten tainted with the chemical melamine into the U.S. It was then sold to pet-food makers, and thousands of cats and dogs reportedly became sickened or died.

In 2007, the case resulted in a nationwide recall of more than 150 brands of pet food.

"The conduct of these defendants in violating federal health and safety standards caused the deaths and illness of thousands of family pets, as well as anxiety among dog and cat owners across the country and economic harm to many pet food manufacturers," Acting U.S. Attorney Matt J. Whitworth said in a news release.

The sentencing hearing has not been scheduled. The Millers face up to two years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $200,000 and an order of restitution. ChemNutra is subject to a fine up to $400,000 and an order of restitution.

But Robert J. Becerra, an attorney who represented Sally Qing Miller, who is a Chinese national, and Chemnutra, said the company, the Millers and the government agreed that probation and a fine were an appropriate sentence.

"The Millers and ChemNutra look forward to putting both this case and this tragic matter behind them and hope that today's enhanced awareness of food safety issues will prevent this from ever happening again," Becerra said.

Lance Sandage, defense attorney for Stephen Miller, the owner and chief executive officer of Chemnutra, did not immediately return phone calls Tuesday seeking comment.