Ex-food firm exec guilty in $1.4M scam

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A former executive with a Pennsylvania potato chip and snack food company has pleaded guilty to defrauding the company out of roughly $1.4 million.

Kevin Myers, 38, acknowledged Tuesday that he received $651,000 in kickbacks while he was purchasing director at Utz Quality Foods in Hanover.

Federal prosecutors said Myers received the kickbacks from Jonathan Haas, 45, who owned Haas Packaging and Design when the thefts occurred between January 2010 and August 2014.

Investigators said Haas submitted bogus invoices for $1.4 million in shelving and packaging products that were never delivered to Utz. Myers approved the payments to Haas, who kicked back part of the money to Myers.

Haas’ attorney, Stanley Margle, said his client plans to plead guilty, too, but said Haas disputes the amount of losses attributed to him.