Athol Man Indicted for False Claim and Statement

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that an Athol, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for False Claim and False Statement.

Jason Sparling, age 42, was indicted on April 19, 2016, and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on May 13, 2016.  He pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is 5 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The charges relate to Sparling submitting a false claim to the Livestock Forage Disaster Program for the loss of grazing land.

The charges are merely an accusation and Sparling is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Agriculture.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Patterson is prosecuting the case.

Sparling was released pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.