Two Wellman men have been charged as a result of an investigation of illegal meat sales.

Court records show that charges of second-degree fraudulent practice, a class D felony, and meat and poultry license violation, a simple misdemeanor, were filed on June 16th against 57-year-old Alan Ray Christiansen and 58-year-old Kenneth Paul Drozd. The criminal complaint states that from March to October of 2020 Christiansen and Drozd conspired to operate a business called “English River Meats” where they maintained a premises where animals or poultry were slaughtered or otherwise prepared for custom, resale, or retail. The men were not licensed to operate such an establishment, and they used Facebook to advertise and sell the products for human consumption.

On September 5th, an Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) compliance officer performed a controlled buy of meat products, and on October 14th members of IDALS, Washington County Environmental Health, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the address of English River Meats. More than 65 pounds of meat was seized, which was being stored in conditions that rendered the meat hazardous to human consumption. The seized meat was valued at about $5,700. KCII will bring you more information as it becomes official.