Woman pleads guilty to poisoning salsa: How much was healthcare tab for victims?

Yini De La Torre, 19, has pleaded guilty to putting poison in salsa served to patrons at Mi Ranchito restaurant in Lenexa (Kan.). An account of the case from the US Justice Dept. reads like a novella. And it begs the question how much does one act by an individual cost us in terms of healthcare. De La Torre’s actions made at least 48 victims sick.

De La Torre pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to tamper with a consumer product. In her plea, she admitted that while working as a waitress at the Mi Ranchito restaurant in Lenexa she twice added Methomyl-based pesticide to salsa she prepared. On Aug. 11, 2009, during the lunch rush, 12 diners at Mi Ranchito suffered nausea, abdominal cramps, weakness, sweating and chest discomfort after eating salsa.

On Aug. 30, 2009, during dinner, approximately 36 patrons of Mi Ranchito suffered similar symptoms after eating salsa. Some of the customers were transported to the hospital. The poisoned patrons ranged from young children to senior citizens, some of whom suffered from medical conditions that were aggravated by the poison.

De La Torre said her husband and co-defendant Arnoldo Bazan worked for a Mi Ranchito restaurant in Olathe until June 27, 2009. Bazan believed the owner of the Mi Ranchito chain was responsible for Bazan being suspended from employment and the theft of Bazan’s vehicle. Bazan hatched a plot with De La Torre to get even with the owner of the restaurant by poisoning the patrons of Mi Ranchito.

During July 2009, the owner of the Mi Ranchito restaurant reported to the Overland Park Police Department that Bazan was stalking him. On Aug. 7, 2009, a message was sent to the restaurant’s Web site threatening harm if Bazan’s vehicle were not returned. On Aug. 28, 2009, before the second poisoning incident, Bazan sent word to the owner of the restaurant through a family member that “the worst is yet to come.”

While Lenexa police were investigating the poisoning, Bazan told Da La Torre not to speak with investigators or she would suffer physical harm. The Johnson County Health Department collected samples of food from the restaurant as well as blood and urine samples from the patrons who became ill. A Food and Drug Administration lab found Methomyl in the salsa.

A laboratory at the University of California - Davis found Methomyl in the samples from the patrons. Methomyl is a highly toxic compound introduced in 1966 as an insecticide for treatment of vegetable, fruit and field crops.

As a result of the poisoning incidents, all six Mi Ranchito restaurants suffered reduced income. The Mi Ranchito in Lenexa saw sales for September and October 2009 decline by approximately $250,000.
De La Torre is set for sentencing May 18, 2010. Bazan is awaiting trial. Conspiracy to tamper with a consumer product carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.

Talk about running a tab—this woman ran up healthcare costs and almost tanked a business. Those costs are without what it cost to investigate and prosecute her. It'd probably be a pipe dream to seek restitution. [Text directly from DOJ release with commentary by Kay B. Day]