Anyone who has owned their own farm likely knows of the potential pitfalls that can come with it. Natural disasters, for example, can cause significant damage to a crop, making it difficult, if not impossible, for farmers to be successful. Unfortunately, federal officials claim that a farmer in North Carolina is guilty of insurance fraud.
Officials say that the alleged fraud took place over a four-year period. During that time, they say that the man and his co-conspirators stole over $5 million of federal crop insurance fraud funds. The 43-year-old man and others reportedly rented land in three different North Carolina counties.
Prosecutors say that, between 2007 and 2011, the group filed federal crop disaster relief and crop insurance claims that were false. Additionally, they are accused of manipulating transactions to conceal the activity. The money they reportedly obtained is said to have been used to pay outstanding loan balances and farming expenses. The man now faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit money laundering and making false statements to federal agencies. It is unclear how many people prosecutors believe are involved and whether others will also face charges.
Unfortunately, accusations of white-collar crimes, including fraud, can be extremely complicated. Those in North Carolina facing such accusations may be unaware of their legal options. However, the decisions that they make could ultimately have a significant impact on the rest of their lives. As such, they often choose to seek guidance from an experienced criminal defense attorney who can both help them understand their legal options and ensure that appropriate action is taken if unlawful treatment occurs.
Source: wral.com, "North Carolina man charged with crop insurance fraud", April 27, 2018