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Title: Amish grandpa farmer found guilty on ALL counts involving his homemade salves - faces up to 48 years in prison
Source:
Signs of The Times
URL Source: https://www.sott.net/article/344894 ... faces-up-to-48-years-in-prison
Published: Mar 10, 2017
Author: Erin Elizabeth
Post Date: 2017-03-11 13:31:21 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 1341
Comments: 5
From the federal government's perspective it was inappropriate for Sam to contact them, but he was reaching out to confused and very worried friends with whom he had a close personal business relationship. He was trying to explain what was happening to the best of his understanding. A subpoena from the federal government is a terrifying thing to an Amish person. It was obvious from the testimony of all of the FDA's subpoenaed witnesses that they did feel threatened and intimidated... by the FDA. They were clearly on Sam's side, even though they were being compelled to testify against him. 
We are SHOCKED and saddened to report that on March 2nd, Amish farmer (and father and grandfather) Samuel Girod- who we have reported on before - was found guilty by a federal jury for making and distributing herbal products on his family farm. The FDA requires manufacturers of defined drugs to register their facility with them and the Girod farm is not registered. He will be sentenced by a judge on June 16 at 10 a.m.
Watch this video I made below:
In the end, the government charged Girod with conspiracy to impede an officer, obstruction of a proceeding before an agency, failing to register with the FDA, eights counts of causing misbranded drugs to be introduced into interstate commerce, tampering with a witness and failure to appear. The jury found Girod guilty on all 13 counts, but not only did they find him guilty, "they found Sam guilty of each separate part of each count, even when only one part would be needed to make Sam guilty of that count against him," reports Health Impact News. It's almost like it was personal.
From Health Impact: Sam described the FDA coming to his home in Indiana and objecting to the skin cancer claim so he removed that from the label. Sam asked if they had any other concerns and was told they would like to think about it for a week. They never responded. After a few weeks, Sam contacted them and they didn't reply.
We cannot believe the FDA has gone to these lengths to silence someone because they are making a natural health product. Do not believe for one moment they are trying to save or protect anyone from harm- they are silencing and potentially putting an Amish man in PRISON for healing people without the help of pharmaceuticals. That is the extent of it. Quite frankly is shameful.
Sam refuted the claim that the Amish were physically intimidating. He explained that they would never intimidate or threaten anyone. Anybody with even a passing familiarity with the Amish would know that to be the truth. He also stressed that nobody cursed at the FDA agents, as that is something they do not do.
Sam stated that he never harmed anybody and never acted to deceive anybody.
Sam explained that he never threatened or intimidated Mary Miller to prevent her from providing evidence to a grand jury. They had discussed the matter because she had no prior dealings with the FDA and in fact that was the last thing this Amish woman wanted, and Sam felt bad that his actions had inadvertently drawn the FDA's attention to Mary. Sam followed up with a letter to several customers and business associates in a letter addressed to "Friends". He stated in the letter that everyone was free to do whatever they wanted to do.
When the problems first surfaced with the FDA, some time around 2003, Sam hired a lawyer and his lawyer hired an FDA approved lab to test Sam's products. The FDA also tested Sam's products in their own lab using liquid chromatography and mass spectroscopy. Both labs reached the same conclusions. The ingredients matched the label's ingredients list, the samples did not contain any drugs as commonly defined or any alkaloids or poisons, and the samples from different containers of the same product were consistent. In 2003 and 2004, the FDA requested more label changes and Sam made the changes, removing all health claims and only listing the ingredients on the label.
Please consider writing the judge to let him know a) what you think of this travesty and b) that Sam Girod deserves grace and time served:
The Honorable Danny C. Reeves
United States District Judge
US District Court
101 Barr Street
Lexington, KY 40507
You can also sign the Change.org petition for Sam Girod. [Here's a link to copy and share:bit.ly/freeamishsam] (2 images)
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#1. To: Deckard (#0)
WKYT Investigation| Amish farmer in jail awaiting trial, facing time in federal prison BATH COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) - Since October of 2015 Amish farmer, Samuel Girod has been facing a 12-count federal indictment. The charges against him include conspiracy, distributing misbranded drugs, and threatening a witness. Girod's troubles started back in 2013 when someone reported his products to the state health department in Missouri. A federal judge in Missouri put an injunction in place, banning Girod from making some of his products until he met certain conditions. Part of those conditions were inspections of the property where Girod made his products which is where Kentucky comes into play. Girod's makes his products on the family farm along Satterfield Lane in Bath County. The farm is home to Girod and his wife, along with their 12 children and 25 grandchildren. Due to their Amish religious beliefs, no one in the Girod family was able to talk with WKYT on camera. However, they told us they just want to see the leader of their family freed. "I think everybody in the community has heard about it," said Bath County resident, Suza Moody. Many in Bath County are confused as one of their own sits in jail. "I can't even figure out what he has done wrong," said Moody. "They live at the foot of the cross and the thought of one of them intentionally doing something wrong is outrageous." "They are just devastated. I mean when they brought him out in handcuffs. It was awful," said family friend, Sally Oh. One product at the center of the lengthy indictment is Girod's Chickweed salve. "Its ingredients include rosemary, beeswax, olive oil," explained Oh. Throughout the accusations, the FDA often took up an issue with the labeling of the products. "It said 'Chickweed Salve' up top, then on down said 'Cures Cancer.' Which for some people it did, but he can't say that. So he changed it to say 'Healing Chickweed,' but they said no you can't say healing. So now it just says 'Original Chickweed,'" explained Oh. Moody said, "I mean do you go to jail because you've messed up a label on a product? I thought you went to jail because you did something bad. I mean he mislabeled something? I doubt he knew any better." The FDA says Girod also passed out pamphlets touting his products' effectiveness in treating various conditions. It is because of those claims that under the federal food, drug, and cosmetic act the FDA says the products are defined as a drug even though multiple tests confirm the products do not contain drugs. The FDA requires anyone who manufactures a defined drug to register their facility with them. The Girod farm is not registered. "Sam has made this product for over 20 years, and he has never hurt anyone," said Oh. However, the indictment says this is much more than a labeling mistake. The allegations claim the product known as TO-MOR-GONE, which is said to be "very good at removing tumors," used a bloodroot plant extract that has a corrosive effect on human skin. Prosecutors pointed out that back in 2013, a federal judge in Missouri banned Girod from distributing these products until he met certain conditions. Those conditions include allowing the FDA to inspect where Girod made the goods. According to the indictment, the FDA says their officers were prevented from conducting an inspection at the farm. They also say Girod continued to sell the products without letting his customers know they were the subject of a court- ordered injunction. "I feel like jail is for criminals. He might have done something wrong by the word of the law, but he is a far cry from a criminal," said Moody. Since the 2015 indictment, Girod who fired his appointed attorney and is now representing himself has been trying hard to clear his name. The Amish farmer filed a motion to dismiss his case, citing a lack of due process, lack of standing, and lack of jurisdiction. A judge denied the motion and set a status conference back in August. "Sam is a very literal person. This hearing didn't say, 'Hey Sam you've got to be here.' It just said there's a status hearing in your case and he thought he didn't have to show up. It was a mistake on his part, but because he is not an attorney, he just doesn't understand," explained Oh. A warrant then issued for Girod's arrest. The Bath County Sheriff wrote a letter to those involved, saying he is concerned about the "ongoing ruthless and relentless attack against one of his constituents." The letter went on to say Girod was in the protective custody of his office. Girod was considered a fugitive for about five months before being arrested at his farm in early January. He is now in jail without bond awaiting his trial scheduled for late February. "It is like a freight train out of control, there is no stopping it," said Oh. She says she believes the bottom line in this all is that "They are targeting the Amish because they don't threaten. They don't fight back, and they don't like lawyers." The U.S. Attorney's Office is saying that is far from the truth and that their primary and sole concern is protecting potential consumers. The office released the following statement: "In cases like this, our interests are ensuring that drugs that are made available to the public are safe for consumption and ensuring the integrity of the judicial process.”
#2. To: All (#1)
Criminal Action No. 5: 15-87-DCR (E.D. Ky. Jul. 21, 2016)
No - their interests are protecting Big Pharma.
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Replies to Comment # 1.
UNITED STATES V. GIROD
#3. To: Gatlin (#1)
...our interests are ensuring that drugs that are made available to the public are safe for consumption
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