All felony charges were dismissed against Paul Kruse previously President and CEO of Blue Bell Creamery. This action followed a motion granted by U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman.  At issue were seven felony counts relating to a 2015 outbreak of listeriosis traced back to Blue Bell plants and products.

Blue Bell entered a corporate guilty plea on May 1st admitting to shipping contaminated ice cream during the 2015 outbreak.  The company agreed to pay a $19 million penalty.

The dismissal of charges related to legal technicalities.  The Department of Justice did not obtain a Grand Jury indictment or a waiver by Kruse as he was charged with an information filing. The indictment was apparently expedited by the DOJ due to imminent expiration of the five-year statute of limitations.