PORTLAND, Maine — A man accused of putting razor blades in premade pizza dough at supermarkets in Maine and New Hampshire pleaded guilty to a federal charge of tampering with a consumer product.
Nicholas Mitchell, 39, of Maine, was arrested in October 2020 after the items were found in the dough, which was sold at a Hannaford supermarket, WCSH reported. One was found in pizza dough sold at a Hannaford store in Saco, Maine, according to The Associated Press. Tampering also was discovered at supermarkets in Sanford, Maine, and Dover, New Hampshire, the AP reported.
Mitchell pleaded guilty three days later, but on Thursday he pleaded guilty on one count and accepted a sentence of up to four years and nine months in prison, according to the television station.
Mitchell was indicted on March 26 by a federal grand jury on two charges, WCSH reported.
Mitchell was fired from his job last summer as a forklift operator for It’ll Be Pizza, a Scarborough, Maine, company that manufactures pizza dough, the Portland Press-Herald reported. It’ll Be Pizza made the dough that was sold at Hannaford and other grocery stores in five states.
Mitchell initially was charged in state court with reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon and violating the conditions of his release, the Press-Herald reported. The state charges were dropped after the federal indictment, York County District Attorney Kathryn Slattery said in March.
Mitchell faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, WCSH reported. A sentencing date has not been set, according to the AP.