farmer pleads guilty to crop insurance fraud
Raleigh, North Carolina - United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court today RICHARD ENOCH, 68, of Mebane, North Carolina, pled guilty before Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever III to a two-count Criminal Information charging him with making false statements to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and aiding and abetting the same, all in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1014 and 2.
“By his criminal conduct, the defendant stole from the taxpayers. His actions undermine the public’s confidence in a system designed to provide a safety net to honest farmers in times of disasters, such as drought and floods” remarked U.S. Attorney Walker.
According to the Criminal Information filed on September 27, 2012, and information presented in open court, ENOCH was a tobacco farmer in Alamance County. ENOCH’s insurance agent was William Larry Rogers, who pled guilty earlier today to conspiring to commit various fraud offenses in connection with federal crop insurance program and private crop hail claims.
Between 2006 and 2008, ENOCH sold tobacco through William Larry Rogers and thereafter failed to disclose such tobacco in production reports in connection with his claims for indemnity payments. As a result of his false claims, ENOCH obtained indemnity payments to which he was not entitled.
On March 23, 2011, ENOCH lied to federal law enforcement officers and denied selling hidden tobacco through Rogers.
The criminal investigation of this case was conducted by United States Department of Agriculture – Office of the Inspector General - Investigations; and United States Department of Agriculture - Risk Management Agency – Special Investigations Branch. Assistant United States Attorney Banumathi Rangarajan is handling the prosecution on behalf of the Eastern District of North Carolina.
