A notable official from the food service department of New York City’s public education system, Eric Goldstein, has been given a two-year prison sentence. This decision was made on Monday and is related to an extensive bribery scheme that compromised the safety of school meals served to children. Tragically, these students were subjected to consuming chicken tenders tainted with metal particles and bone fragments. The proceedings took place at the federal court in Brooklyn.
Subsequent to Goldstein’s sentencing, similar verdicts were pronounced for three other individuals who were instrumental in operating a vendor firm contracted by the city to supply food for the schools. These men include Blaine Iler, Michael Turley, and Brian Twomey. Their involvement in the illicit operations significantly contributed to the food contamination issues.
According to a statement by U.S. Attorney Breon Peace, Goldstein was a pivotal figure in the scandal. It was alleged that Goldstein played a leading role in ensuring the mentioned vendor’s food remained in circulation within the schools. Disturbingly, this activity continued despite notable evidence of bones, plastic, and metal being discovered in the chicken.
Of the three vendor operators, Iler was handed a punishment consisting of a one-year prison sentence and an accompanying fine of $10,000. Turley and Twomey each received slightly longer sentences of 15 months, with Twomey also required to pay a fine of $10,000. These pronounced decisions followed their verdicts of guilt on numerous counts including conspiracy and bribery after a month-long trial in 2023.
Following the ruling, U.S. Attorney Breon Peace offered a stern rebuke of Goldstein’s actions, stating, ‘Eric Goldstein exploited his position of power as a public servant. His pursuit of financial gain jeopardized the well-being of school children who are often reliant on nutritious meals provided by the NYC Department of Education.’
Peace further emphasized that Goldstein prioritized his personal profit by accepting bribes from other defendants, ensuring the vendor’s food remained within schools even after particles of plastic, metal, and bones had surfaced in the chicken meals.
Goldstein held a key role in the New York City’s Office of School Support Services as the supervisor for all school food from 2008 to 2018. During this time, SOMMA Food Group, owned by Iler, Twomey, and Turley, held a food supply contract with the city, significantly influencing the city’s public school meals.
Interestingly, in conjunction with their existing SOMMA Food Group business, the three vendor operators partnered with Goldstein to form another company. This newly formed venture focused on the import of grass-fed beef. Based on arguments presented by prosecuting attorneys, this new undertaking was formulated as a cover to facilitate payments to Goldstein.
To further shed light on the depth of their craftiness, prosecutors pointed out that the largest instance of bribery took place in the fall of 2016. This occured after the NYC school system had ceased serving SOMMA’s chicken tenders on finding that a student choked on a bone present in a supposed boneless chicken tender.
The chilling sequence of events unfolded when on November 29, 2016, Iler, Turley, and Twomey agreed to supply Goldstein with a bribe he had requested. As if on cue, the day after their agreement, Goldstein allowed the reintroduction of chicken products from SOMMA to be served in the schools.
Despite repeated complaints and adverse incidents coming to light over SOMMA’s products, their chicken tenders were continually served in the schools. This persisted until April 2017, casting a shadow over the safety and well-being of the students, as shared by prosecutors.