Former NYC School Official Sentenced in Bribery Case

Former NYC school food chief has been sentenced to two years behind bars for a bribery scheme involving tainted chicken served to students.

At a Glance

Eric Goldstein, former head of NYC school food services, was sentenced to two years in prison for bribery.
Three executives from SOMMA Food Group were also sentenced for their roles in the scheme.
The bribery led to students being provided contaminated chicken products.
The scheme put students at risk, with complaints of plastic, bone, and metal found in chicken tenders

Former NYC School Official Sentenced in Shocking Bribery Case

In a case that has shaken the trust of parents and educators alike, Eric Goldstein, the former head of food services for New York City public schools, has been sentenced to two years in prison for his role in a bribery scheme that put students at risk. Goldstein, who served as the chief of the Office of School Support Services from 2008 to 2018, was found guilty of accepting bribes from a food vendor in exchange for contracts and turning a blind eye to food safety concerns.

The case, which went to trial in 2023, exposed a disturbing betrayal of public trust. Goldstein was not alone in facing justice; three executives from SOMMA Food Group, the Texas-based company at the center of the scandal, were also sentenced. Blaine Iler received one year in prison and a $10,000 fine, while Michael Turley and Brian Twomey each received 15-month sentences, with Twomey also fined $10,000.

Former New York City schools food czar Eric Goldstein was given a lenient two-year prison sentence for a bribery scandal that resulted in students being served tainted chicken.

He originally faced more than six years behind bars. https://t.co/HlB8HJqQMU

— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) September 9, 2024

Tainted Chicken and Compromised Safety

The most alarming aspect of this case is the direct impact it had on the health and safety of schoolchildren. The school system had reportedly taken SOMMA Food Group off the menu due to an incident in which someone choked on a bone in a chicken tender that was branded as boneless. However, Goldstein later accepted a payment from the company’s executives and subsequently allowed SOMMA tenders back on the menu. Despite complaints about foreign objects found in SOMMA’s chicken tenders, including plastic shards, bones, and metal, Goldstein ensured that these products remained in school cafeterias.

“Eric Goldstein corruptly abused his high-ranking position of trust as a public official and pursued lucrative bribes at the expense of school children, many of whom rely on healthy meals provided by the New York City Department of Education,” U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said in a statement.

A Pattern of Corruption

The bribery scheme was not a one-time occurrence but a pattern of corruption that spanned several years. In 2015 and 2016, SOMMA transferred nearly $100,000 to a company for Goldstein’s benefit, including payments to his divorce attorney and father. The scheme also involved the formation of another company to import grass-fed beef, which prosecutors saw as an additional payoff mechanism.

“Great responsibility came with overseeing the school system’s food operations, but shamefully, Goldstein prioritized lining his pockets with payoffs from his co-defendants to ensure the DOE purchased their products and that their food stayed in the schools even after plastic, bones and metal were found in the chicken served to schoolchildren and teachers,” US Attorney Breon Peace said. He called the sentences a “lesson” to the convicted and others that “public corruption,” particularly that which puts children at risk, will not be tolerated.

The Department of Education finally removed SOMMA products permanently from school cafeterias in April 2017, but not before countless students had been exposed to potentially dangerous food items. This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of oversight and accountability in our public institutions, especially those entrusted with the care and well-being of our children.