A southwest Florida farm manager could spend years behind bars and be ordered to repay more than $3 million after admitting to his role in a federal crop insurance fraud scheme.

Mark Frisbie, 60, of Punta Gorda, pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement on a federal crop insurance claim, according to federal court records. Prosecutors say Frisbie substantially understated the production and sales of bell pepper crops grown at farms around Immokalee, near Fort Myers.

The alleged scheme reached deep into one of southwest Florida's most prominent agricultural operations and resulted in millions of dollars in government payouts, turning what appeared to be routine crop reporting into a federal criminal case.

Mark Frisbie Crop Insurance Fraud Probe Leads to Guilty Plea

According to a federal felony information document, the scheme caused approximately $1.7 million in losses to the Federal Crop Insurance Corp. and another $1.5 million to the Farm Service Agency, a U.S. Department of Agriculture agency that provides assistance to farmers.

The allegations center on deliberately reporting significantly lower crop production and sales than were actually generated.

The case involved what prosecutors described as an arrangement between Frisbie and an individual identified in court documents only as “Conspirator 1.”

The person's identity was not disclosed in the federal records. However, a former Oakes Farms official told WINK News that the person was Alfie Oakes, owner of the large agricultural business in southwest Florida. The Bradenton Herald and other news organizations also reported that identification.

Oakes could not be reached for comment by those news outlets.

Separate Federal Investigation Involving Oakes

Oakes has attracted public attention for his anti-government and political views. He was also the subject of a separate federal investigation in 2024, when federal agents raided his home and business office, according to local news reports at the time.

The current crop insurance case is separate from that investigation.

The allegations against Frisbie, meanwhile, have brought renewed scrutiny to farming practices surrounding the southwest Florida operation.

Alleged “Insurance Farming” Scheme

Another person identified in the case, Christopher Lee, a former manager at Oakes Farms, entered into a plea agreement with federal prosecutors in 2025.

Court records indicate that Lee and others participated in a practice described as “insurance farming.” The strategy allegedly involved intentionally failing to fumigate or fertilize insured crops, with the objective of collecting crop insurance payments when the crops subsequently failed or produced less than expected.

Rather than being a shield against an unpredictable harvest, prosecutors say the insurance system was allegedly manipulated as a source of payments.

Frisbie's guilty plea now adds another significant development to the federal investigation.

Frisbie Could Face 30 Years in Prison

The charge to which Frisbie pleaded guilty carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison, along with a potential $1 million fine and restitution.

The ultimate punishment could be substantially lower if Frisbie continues cooperating with federal prosecutors, according to reports citing the case.

The potential restitution reflects the millions of dollars that prosecutors say were improperly obtained through the crop insurance and Farm Service Agency programs.

Attorney Says Frisbie Accepted Responsibility

Frisbie is represented by attorney Simon Gaugush of Carlton Fields.

Gaugush told the Bradenton Herald and the Fort Myers News-Press that his client has accepted responsibility for his conduct.

The attorney also sought to put the allegations against Frisbie in the context of his broader career in agriculture.

“For over 15 years, Mark Frisbie ran a legitimate farming operation in Southwest Florida, growing food to feed American families,” Gaugush said. “This charge does not change that fact. He is a family man and a respected member of his community.”

Frisbie's guilty plea resolves the immediate question of whether he will contest the federal charge, but the case now moves toward sentencing, where his cooperation and the government's calculation of losses and restitution could become critical.