Jameson Man Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to Defrauding Covid Agricultural Program
KANSAS CITY, MO – A Jameson, Mo., man has pleaded guilty in federal court to defrauding the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, a program created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act.
Forty-nine-year-old Troy Jennings pleaded guilty to a federal charge of theft of government funds.
The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program was created to provide financial assistance to producers of agricultural commodities during the coronavirus pandemic. As part of the program, cattle producers could receive a per-head payment for cattle sold between January 15th, 2020, and April 15th, 2020.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri says Jennings provided false information on his CFAP application regarding the number of cattle he sold. Jennings admitted that when asked by the FSA to substantiate his numbers he submitted multiple fraudulent documents and activated a pre-paid phone in an attempt to impersonate another man.
As part of his plea agreement, Jennings will be required to pay restitution in the amount of $114,267, the full amount he received from the CFAP.
Under federal statutes, Jennings is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
