Tyson Foods Lobbyist Convicted For Lying

A lobbyist for Tyson Foods Inc., the nation’s largest poultry producer, was convicted Friday of twice lying to investigators about providing favors to former Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy.

The guilty verdict against Jack L. Williams was announced by the jury in U.S. District Court after just four hours of deliberations.

Judge James Robertson set June 5 for sentencing and released Williams on his personal recognizance.

Williams, a Washington lobbyist for Tyson, was convicted of two counts of making false statements. He could be sentenced to five years in prison and fined up to $250,000 on each count.