DENVER – The US District Court in Colorado announced that the price-fixing trial for Jayson Penn, chief executive officer of Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., would be delayed until 2021.

Judge Philip Brummer approved a joint motion on July 13 from federal prosecutors and Penn’s attorneys to delay the beginning of the trial until Feb. 16, 2021. Pretrial motions for the case are now due on Dec. 28, 2020.

The indictment states that four executives conspired to fix prices and rig bids for broiler chickens across the United States from at least as early as 2012 until at least as early 2017.

Penn is currently on a leave of absence from Pilgrim’s Pride following his federal indictment on his alleged role in the conspiracy to fix prices. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. is a unit of São Paulo, Brazil-based JBS SA.