Amish Man Sent to Prison for 6 Year Sentence, Because of FDA Labeling Infraction

Need another example of extreme federal overreach?  Look no further than Kentucky, where an Amish farmer got into  trouble with the federal government for his herbal remedies. According to Ricochet, the father of a dozen kids sold things:

… a salve made of chickweed, rosemary, beeswax, and olive oil. The label said it was to treat skin disorders such as “dry skin, cuts, burns, draws, and poison ivy.” Girod also handed out pamphlets touting the product’s effectiveness in treating skin cancer, diaper rash, and fungal infections.

When a Missouri resident filed a complaint, the state health department demanded he remove the language. Girod changed the product’s name to “Healing Chickweed,” agents said the word “healing” was verboten, so he renamed it “Original Chickweed.”

Another of Girod’s products, called TO-MOR-GONE, contains bloodroot and was claimed to be “very good at removing tumors.” This old folk remedy has been practiced for centuries, mostly to remove dead skin layers from around skin tumors and wounds. But bloodroot removes this dead skin due via its caustic properties. The FDA decided this was a danger to the public and demanded to inspect his manufacturing process — in other words, his home.

When he missed a hearing, the feds labeled him a fugitive — even though he hadn’t fled anywhere.  He was right where he always was, on his family farm.  The government officials showed up to his home, but the farmer barred them from entry.  Since he was selling herbal remedies, he didn’t believe that the FDA has any jurisdiction over him.  The government disagreed, held him without bail, and the trial proceeded.

“I am not a creation of state/government, as such I am not within its jurisdiction,” he said, representing himself in court. “The proceedings of the ‘United States District Court’ cannot be applied within the jurisdiction of the ‘State of Kentucky.’ I do not waive my immunity to this court. I do not consent.”

The farmer was nevertheless sentenced to “6 years in federal prison, three years supervised release following that, $1,300 in fines, and more than $14,000 restitution for his victimless crime.”

No one is happy about this.  According to the Lexington Herald Leader, a Transylvania University student from Boone County held a sign of protest outside the courthouse.

“I don’t need the FDA to protect me from an Amish farmer,” it read.

Image Credit: Wikicommons

h/t Ricochet