Two Wellman men that were arrested following an investigation of illegal meat sales were recently sentenced.

Through a plea agreement 57-year-old Alan Ray Christiansen and 58-year-old Kenneth Paul Drozd are convicted of simple misdemeanors for fifth-degree fraudulent practice and a meat and poultry license violation. They must pay a $105 fine with a 15% surcharge for each charge, and a charge of second-degree fraudulent practice, a class D felony, was dismissed. It was also ordered that the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Department of Agriculture destroy the unlawful property that was seized from the defendants.

Christiansen and Drozd were charged last June for operating an unlicensed business called “English River Meats,” using Facebook to advertise and sell products for human consumption from March to October of 2020. On September 5th, 2020, an Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship compliance officer performed a controlled buy of meat products, and on October 14th the department along with Washington County Environmental Health and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the business’ address. More than 65 pounds of meat valued at about $5,700 was seized, which was stored in conditions that rendered the meat hazardous to human consumption.