Las Vegas-based company pleads guilty in toxic pet food case

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - A Las Vegas-based company and its owners have agreed to plead guilty in connection with tainted pet food in 2007 that may have killed thousands of dogs and cats.

Stephen S. Miller is co-owner of ChemNutra Inc. An attorney for Miller filed documents last week in federal court in Kansas City saying Miller had reached a plea agreement with prosecutors and would plead guilty plea at a hearing June 16.

Miller’s wife, Sally Miller, and ChemNutra also planned to plead guilty. Attorneys did not immediately return calls.

The Millers and ChemNutra were indicted in February 2008 on charges of selling Chinese-made wheat gluten tainted with the chemical melamine to pet food makers.

Pet owners reported thousands of dogs and cats becoming ill or dying after eating the tainted food.