Brothers Stewart and Micheal Parnell are the most reviled characters from one of food safety’s worst tragedies, and they’ve been trying for an early release from prison going into their sixth year. Stewart, 70, and Michael, 65, seemed close to getting a decision Sept. 26, 2024, when the U.
S. Court of Appeals in Atlanta held oral arguments in a consolidated hearing. But the three-judge panel has yet to rule on the motion that could see a reduction in the brothers’ case, sending the matter into a sixth year.
Stewart Parnell has over a dozen years to serve on his prison sentence, and Michael Parnell has about half of that. Their jury convictions and trial judge rulings were all upheld by the Appellate Court in 2018. They’ve sought since 2019 to obtain early release under a federal 2255 motion, also known as a Habeas Corpus motion.
In 2008-09, the Peanut Corporation of America’s (PCA’s) Georgia peanut processing plant was the source of a multi-state Salmonella outbreak that sickened thousands and resulted in nine deaths. PCA peanut butter and paste subsequently required the recall of thousands of products. A four-year investigation, led by the FBI, followed and resulted in criminal indictments against both of the Parnell brothers.
On Feb. 15, 2013, an Albany, GA, jury found Stewart Parnell guilty of all but one of the 68 felony counts with which he was charged. He was convicted of conspiracy, mail and wire fraud, selling misbranded food, and introducing adulterated fo.
