Rice County Woman Pleads Guilty In Cattle Fraud

WICHITA, KAN. – A Rice County woman has pleaded guilty in connection with a cattle fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Carrie L. Frederick, 37, Sterling, Kan., pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud. In her plea, she admitted she embezzled money while she worked for Sellers Farms, Inc., a livestock feeding operation in Lyons, Kan. She caused money to be sent from Sellers Farms’ accounts to Golden Belt Feeders, Inc., of St. John, Kan., to pay debts she owed from trading cattle when she worked for Golden Belt. There were three transactions of embezzled funds totaling more than $211,000.

Sentencing is set for Sept. 11. She faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million on each count. Grissom commended the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch for their work on the case.