FOLLOW US

Wed

June 17, 2026

Industry News April 15, 2022 4 mins read

Farmers, Insurance Agents Imprisoned for Defrauding Crop Insurance Programs

Industry News ı By Marivic Cabural Summers

0 Comments

FTC-lawsuit-Kochava-geolocation data

More than a dozen tobacco farmers, a warehouse owner, several insurance agents, and adjusters in Kentucky were sent to prison for participating in a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud federal and private crop insurance programs.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), a total of 23 people have been criminally charged in connection with the crop insurance fraud scheme. Another 17 individuals agreed to pay civil penalties to settle the charges against them.

A tip triggered an investigation into the crop insurance fraud scheme

In 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Office of Inspector General (OIG( received a tip regarding a suspected fraud at Clay's Tobacco Warehouse in Mount Sterling, Kentucky.

That information triggered an investigation by multiple agencies including the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the USDA-OIG.

FBI Forensic Accountant Tressa Whittington has been working with IRS and USDA-OIG agents to bring to justice those involved in the crop insurance fraud scheme. The agents found that the scheme was widespread in the farming communities in Central Kentucky.

According to Whittington, Some of the defendants admitted cheating federal and private crop insurance programs by less than $10,000 while others pleaded guilty to participating in multi-million dollar frauds.

“Whether the theft was of a few thousand dollars or millions, these individuals took advantage of the program,” Whittington said. “They were stealing money from taxpayers and stealing money from the honest farmers who now pay a higher premium," said Whittington in a statement.

Different schemes

Whittington said they found that the defendants used different schemes to defraud crop insurance programs.

For example, a tobacco farmer will conspire with an insurance agent and an adjuster to attest that his crop has been damaged by storms or pests. In reality, the farmer's crop was of good quality.

The farmer will then file an insurance claim using the report from insurance agents and adjusters that his crop was ruined. He will receive insurance money and will pay kickbacks to the insurance agent and the adjusted who conspired with him.

Take note that the farmer in fact has a good quality crop, which he still needs to sell to a tobacco company. most farmers have contracts with large companies to deliver regular tobacco crops. these farmers want to maintain these valuable contracts.

To fulfill its contract with the tobacco company, the farmer needs to commit another fraud. He will show that he sold his poor-quality crop and purchased a good-quality crop, which was delivered to the tobacco company.

12

Previous Article

North Korean Hackers Behind $625 Million Crypto Theft from Ronin Network

Read More
Marivic Cabural Summers
2032 Posts

Marivic Cabural Summers

Marivic has been a freelance writer/journalist for nearly 20 years. She strictly adheres to the ethical standards in journalism. For her, integrity is everything. Readers deserve to know that real story. She previously worked as research analyst and editor at Lombardi Financial and has written for various websites including The Motley Fool, ValueWalk, IcannWiki and was a news writer/radio program producer at Nation Broadcasting Corporation. Marivic holds a BA in Mass Communications.

Discussion

No comments yet. Be the first to join the discussion!

Don’t Miss It
Arizona January 11, 2025
Kelly Warner Law Firm Blames USA…

In what appears as a desperate attempt to defend multiple…

By – USA Herald
Arizona January 4, 2025
Aaron Kelly Law Firm Resorts To…

Attorney Aaron Kelly and his law partner Daniel Warner are…

By – Jeff Watterson
Arizona December 12, 2024
Arizona Bar Opens Investigation on Attorney…

USA Herald recently reported on a developing story involving Attorneys…

By – Paul O'Neal
America June 16, 2026
Russia Shadow Fleet Captain Faces UK…

The captain of a Russian Shadow Fleet tanker intercepted by…

By – Jackie Allen
America June 16, 2026
8 Killed in ‘Unsurvivable’ B-52 Bomber…

A powerful U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber has crashed…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America June 16, 2026
FBI Thwarts Chilling Drone & Sniper…

Federal authorities say they have disrupted a disturbing alleged plot…

By – Rihem Akkouche
High Profile Court Cases June 16, 2026
Justice or Privilege? The Unsettling Truth…

It is a date that has left many observers stunned…

By – Tyler Brooks
Entertainment June 16, 2026
Trump: Magneto’s Secret Weapon to Fuel…

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is preparing for one of its…

By – Tyler Brooks
Business June 16, 2026
Dana White Declares The Historic UFC…

WASHINGTON D.C. — It was 3:00 a.m. on Monday, and…

By – Tyler Brooks
America June 15, 2026
Body Found Floating in Queens Park…

A Body Found Floating in a pond at a quiet…

By – Jackie Allen
America June 15, 2026
Trump Ordered Anthropic to Pull Its…

On June 13, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick sent a letter…

By – Nicolas Carreno
America June 15, 2026
ZCash Security Scare Raises Questions About…

ZCash has found itself at the center of a major…

By – Jackie Allen
America June 15, 2026
Intelligence Gaps and National Security Debates…

The expiration of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance…

By – Tyler Brooks
America June 14, 2026
Oliver Tree Dies at 32 in…

Oliver Tree, the genre-blending singer, songwriter, and internet personality was…

By – Jackie Allen
America June 14, 2026
The Pentagon Dropped Its Third UFO…

The files keep coming. And with each drop, the official…

By – Nicolas Carreno
And More June 15, 2026
The Pursuit of Biological Immortality and…

The objective was clear, articulated in the sterile language of…

By – Tyler Brooks
America June 14, 2026
New York Chaos Erupts After Knicks…

New York Chaos unfolded across the city after the New…

By – Jackie Allen
America June 13, 2026
New York Knicks End 53-Year Championship…

The New York Knicks have finally climbed back to the…

By – Jackie Allen
America June 13, 2026
Paramount and Warner Brothers Merger Approved…

 The proposed Paramount and Warner Brothers Merger has cleared a…

By – Jackie Allen
America June 12, 2026
David Geffen Reunites With Ex-Husband Aboard…

 David Geffen is making headlines again after being spotted spending…

By – Jackie Allen
America June 12, 2026
Me Too Fallout Deepens as French…

The Me Too movement continues to reshape France’s entertainment industry…

By – Jackie Allen
America June 12, 2026
Me Too Fallout Deepens as French…

The Me Too movement continues to reshape France’s entertainment industry…

By – Jackie Allen
America June 12, 2026
Iran Agreed to US Demands: Trump…

In a major diplomatic development, Iran Agreed to US Demands,…

By – Jackie Allen
America June 11, 2026

The Me Too movement continues to reshape the entertainment industry…

By – Jackie Allen
America June 11, 2026
Fatal Accident in Tulsa: Oklahoma Father…

A Fatal Accident in Tulsa that claimed the life of…

By – Jackie Allen
America June 10, 2026
“You’re Killing Me” Brings Brooke Shields…

“You’re Killing Me” is one of Acorn TV’s newest mystery…

By – Jackie Allen
America June 10, 2026
Karmelo Anthony Sentenced to 35 Years…

The case of Karmelo Anthony has drawn widespread attention across…

By – Jackie Allen
Business June 16, 2026
Dana White Declares The Historic UFC…

WASHINGTON D.C. — It was 3:00 a.m. on Monday, and…

By – Tyler Brooks
Entertainment June 16, 2026
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian Daughter:…

Time in the spotlight moves faster than most people realize…

By – Tyler Brooks
Florida News June 16, 2026
Cruise Ship Horror: Teen Accused in…

The legal saga surrounding the tragic death of 18-year-old Anna…

By – Tyler Brooks
California News June 16, 2026
What We Know About the Edwards…

A tragic accident occurred Monday morning at Edwards Air Force…

By – Tyler Brooks
California News June 15, 2026
B-52 Crashed at Edwards Air Force…

Eight people are believed dead after a U.S. Air Force…

By – Nicolas Carreno
Entertainment June 15, 2026
The End of an Era: Seth…

The long-standing creative partnership between Seth Rogen and James Franco…

By – Tyler Brooks
America June 6, 2026
Nichelle Nichols’ Final Mission Ends in…

By Samuel López | USA Herald The woman who helped…

By – Samuel Lopez
America June 5, 2026
Cannabis Giants Hit with Sweeping Class…

A major class action filed May 4, 2026, accuses five…

By – Samuel Lopez
Health June 1, 2026
New Pill Doubles Survival for Pancreatic…

Pancreatic cancer pill doubles life to 13 months By Tyler…

By – Tyler Brooks
California News May 31, 2026
FDA warns public as cookie firm…

FDA warns public as cookie firm rejects urgent recall request…

By – Tyler Brooks
Health May 31, 2026
Trump orders CDC to slash childhood…

Trump orders CDC to slash childhood vaccines from 17 to…

By – Tyler Brooks
Health May 30, 2026
USDA warns Americans over Salmonella in…

USDA warns Americans over Salmonella in meat products By Tylor…

By – Tyler Brooks
Sports June 15, 2026
Pulisic Is Not Training. What Happens…

Mauricio Pochettino pulled Christian Pulisic at halftime of the USMNT’s…

By – Nicolas Carreno
America June 11, 2026
Mexico vs South Africa World Cup…

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is officially underway, but the…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America June 11, 2026
FIFA World Cup 2026: Gianni Infantino…

The countdown to the FIFA World Cup 2026 has transformed…

By – Tyler Brooks
High Profile Court Cases June 10, 2026
The Halfway House Showdown: Convicted Serial…

Justice. Accountability. Public Safety. For the survivors who faced Darren…

By – Tyler Brooks
America June 8, 2026
New York Knicks NBA Finals Game…

The New York Knicks took center stage during Game 3…

By – Jackie Allen
America June 8, 2026
Chinese Company Blocked from Claiming Olympic…

By Samuel López | USA Herald The Olympic rings are…

By – Samuel Lopez

No posts found.

No posts found.

Signup for the USA Herald
exclusive Newsletter