‘Tomato king’ Frederick Scott Salyer is bailed out

After months of battle that included at least seven hearings, four courts and half a dozen judges, “tomato king” Frederick Scott Salyer was ordered released Friday from the Sacramento County Jail on $6 million bail.

The release was expected to occur late Friday night, and the necessary documents will be filed next week after federal court officers have interviewed four owners of property being offered as surety for the bail bond.

Defense lawyers told U.S. District Judge Lawrence K. Karlton they had finally assembled the $6 million in cash and property that the judge had said would be required before Salyer is cut loose. Salyer has been held since his arrest eight months ago.

The judge’s order came despite prosecutors’ consistent and vehement assertion that the 54-year-old multimillionaire would flee the country.

Salyer faces bribery, racketeering, antitrust and other charges that could send him to prison for life. The onetime giant of the processed tomato industry is accused of selling products that were old or moldy and of bribing food company employees to gain an upper hand in the market.

Walsh and Stanton write for the Sacramento Bee/McClatchy.