DETROIT – A jury has convicted a Detroit-area man who was charged with selling infected body parts for research.
Arthur Rathburn was accused of covering up the fact that the body parts had tested positive for hepatitis B and HIV. They were used for medical training at national conferences. There were no reports of illness from conference attendees.
Rathburn was convicted of eight crimes Monday, including illegal transportation of hazardous material. Some of the crimes carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison apiece.
The government's witnesses included Rathburn's ex-wife, who pleaded guilty to fraud.
A federal agent told jurors about raiding Rathburn's Detroit warehouse four years ago. Agent Leslie Larsen said she saw body parts frozen together.
Defense lawyers said Rathburn may have been negligent but he didn't commit crimes.
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