The FBI Investigation

In November 2018, within months of the Bloomberg Businessweek article being published, the FBI launched an investigation into OneTaste. This was published in another Bloomberg Businessweek article, listing anonymous credible “sources”.

The investigation was lead by the same agent for five years.

During the next five years of active FBI investigation, from 2018 to 2023, lawyers for OneTaste and related parties reached out to prosecutors seven times. OneTaste wanted to know what the government was investigating so it could better prepare a defense, and sought to meet with prosecutors to proactively show what OneTaste was all about and why the on-going media reports were wrong.

The prosecutors barely replied. Lawyers for OneTaste and related parties in total reached out seven times to prosecutors seeking transparent and to meet.

In some cases prosecutors would not respond for 12 months or longer.

The company was paralyzed, while it’s resources were drained. The media and the confirmed FBI investigation destroyed its reputation so customers turned their backs, and the company went from serving 35,000 happy customers to employing lawyers to defend a vague investigation.

Lawyers were reaching out to prosecutors be pro-active - tell us what you want to know so we can tell you and get on with our business and our lives.

Prosecutors were vague, nonchalant, and misleading.

In one case, four years in to the investigation, a prosecutor told OneTaste’s attorney to “look to the media” if they wanted to understand what the government was investigating.

In another case, prosecutors said they and OneTaste were “aligned” in “seeking to wind down” the investigation. “Bring this to a close”, they said. For that, they requested a few more voluntary document productions from OneTaste.

In total, OneTaste voluntarily handed over XX documents to prosecutors

In addition OneTaste served XX subpoenas all of which were complied with.

In 2023, an indictment was handed down, charging Nicole Daedone and Rachel Cherwitz with a single count: conspiracy to commit forced labor. This charge is unprecedented—never in U.S. history has this accusation been brought without accompanying substantive crimes or direct evidence.

Key Facts About the Indictment:

• A “Victimless” Conspiracy: No forced labor was identified, and no victims have come forward.

• A 12-Year Alleged Conspiracy: The indictment spans 2006–2018, even though the co-defendants didn’t meet until 2007 and Daedone sold the company in 2017.

• Unusual Timing: The indictment was filed five years after the alleged conspiracy ended.

Prosecutorial Misconduct:

Serious issues of misconduct have plagued the case, including:

• Holding privileged documents for 30 months without notifying the defense.

• Encouraging witnesses to destroy evidence and bypass legal disclosure requirements.

• Seizing funds based on false statements in warrant applications.

What’s Really Happening?

Despite thousands of hours of investigation, the government’s case is vague, confusing, and lacks concrete evidence. Prosecutors have repeatedly suggested that OneTaste look to the media to “find out” what crimes were being investigated.

The financial burden of defending against this investigation has destroyed the company, depleted resources, and damaged reputations.