{"id":27637,"date":"2019-11-16T11:04:04","date_gmt":"2019-11-16T16:04:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/?p=27637"},"modified":"2019-11-16T11:04:04","modified_gmt":"2019-11-16T16:04:04","slug":"29-people-including-one-postal-employee-indicted-in-florida-usda-corruption-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/2019\/11\/16\/29-people-including-one-postal-employee-indicted-in-florida-usda-corruption-case\/","title":{"rendered":"29 people, including one postal employee, indicted in Florida USDA corruption case"},"content":{"rendered":"

Farm Service Agency Executive Director, Former Clerk Of Court, And 27 Others Indicted For Conspiracy To Commit Wire Fraud And Theft Of Government Funds<\/h1>\n
\n
\n
\n

PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA \u2013 A federal grand jury in Tallahassee has returned a far-reaching indictment
\nthat unveils a criminal network of 29 people who actively worked to defraud the federal government
\nand taxpayers of hundreds of thousands of dollars. At the helm of the scheme, a County Executive
\nDirector of the United States Department of Agriculture\u2019s Farm Service Agency is charged with
\norchestrating a broad-based conspiracy to steal government drought assistance funds and hide the
\nactions through identify theft, tax evasion, and other federal crimes with a criminal network of
\nmore than two dozen other people.<\/p>\n

The indictment, announced today by Lawrence Keefe, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of
\nFlorida as part of a crackdown by his office\u2019s enhanced Public Trust Unit, produced a sweeping
\nroundup of 29 current and former federal, state, and local officials and local business people all
\nconnected in the scheme to defraud the U.S. Department of Agriculture.<\/p>\n

The indictment alleges that Farm Service Agency director Duane Edward Crawson, 43, Bonifay,
\nFlorida, led the conspiracy that included a former Holmes County Clerk of Court and numerous other
\nindividuals who had served in positions of public trust and others in a variety of occupations.
\nCharges include conspiracy to commit wire fraud, theft of government funds, aggravated identity
\ntheft, income tax evasion, and obstruction of Internal Revenue laws.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese individuals betrayed their duty as public servants and as citizens in a shallow but
\nbreathtakingly bold effort to lie, cheat, and steal from their fellow citizens and our federal
\ngovernment,\u201d said Keefe. \u201cThis pattern of shameless criminality strikes at the very heart of our
\nsystem of self-government and undermines public trust in the integrity of our basic institutions.
\nThe United States Attorney\u2019s Office and all our law enforcement partners will be relentless in
\npursuing and prosecuting all such violations of public trust.\u201d<\/p>\n

The indictment alleges that between May and December 2017, Crawson — while employed as the County
\nExecutive Director of the USDA\u2019s Farm Service Agency for Bay, Holmes, and Washington counties in
\nFlorida — devised a kickback scheme in which he and his co-conspirators unlawfully obtained approximately $373,483 in taxpayer funds by submitting fraudulent drought assistance claims.<\/p>\n

Crawson is alleged to have submitted fraudulent claims for livestock and farmland parcels that were
\nnot actually owned or leased by the conspirators, resulting in drought assistance funds being
\ndeposited into the conspirators\u2019 bank accounts. The co-conspirators are alleged to have paid
\nCrawson a portion of the fraud proceeds in the form of cash kickbacks.<\/p>\n

The defendants\u2019 trial is scheduled for January 6, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. at the United States
\nCourthouse in Pensacola, Florida.<\/p>\n

Each defendant faces the following potential penalties:
\n– Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud: a maximum of 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
\n–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Theft of Government Funds: a maximum of 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.<\/p>\n

Besides Crawson, the defendants are:<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jeremiah Joe Rolling, 43, of Westville, Florida;
\nInvestigator \u2013 Office of the State Public Defender<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jordan Ryan Hicks, 36, of Ponce De Leon, Florida;
\nFormer Florida Department of Corrections Officer<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davey Eugene Mancill, 44, of Westville, Florida;
\nMancill Masonry, LLC<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 James Stacey Paul, 46, of Bonifay, Florida;
\nPublic Works – City of Bonifay, Florida<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kyle Martin Hudson, 39, of Westville, Florida;
\nFormer Holmes County Clerk of Court<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Christopher Marion Ammons, 31, of Ponce De Leon, Florida;
\nHeavy Equipment Operator<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Danyel Michelle Witt, 44, of Bonifay, Florida;
\nClerk \u2013 United States Postal Service<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sheryl Day Gillman, 52, of Bonifay, Florida;
\nSecretary – Florida Farm Bureau<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Shyloe Rose Sachse, 40, of Bonifay, Florida;
\nFormer Corrections Officer<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tillman Douglas Mears, 30, of Bonifay, Florida;
\nPublic Works – City of Bonifay, Florida<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dawn Marie Crutchfield, 48, of Bonifay, Florida;
\nMedical Assitant<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Justin Mikel Chopelas, 21, of Fayetteville, North Carolina;
\nConstruction<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ronald Ryan Roof, 23, of Westville, Florida;
\nSpecialist \u2013 Army National Guard<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Megan Leann Roof, 22, of Caryville, Florida;
\nHotel Clerk<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Billy Coal Bradshaw, 35, of Bonifay, Florida;
\nAuto Parts Employee<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 James Erwin Mancill, 48, of Bonifay, Florida;
\nAuto Parts Employee<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Joseph Matthew Crowder, 47, of Caryville, Florida;
\nBrick Mason \u2013 Mancill Masonry, LLC<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Audrey Lynn Smith, 32, of Caryville, Florida;
\nConvenience Store Clerk<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Brian Anthony Ammons, 44, of Ponce De Leon, Florida;
\nHeavy Equipment Operator<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Taylor Ward Stripling, 28, of Westville, Florida;
\nFarm Laborer<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dawn Marie Roof, 44, of Chipley, Florida;
\nLicensed Practical Nurse<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Daniel Olajuwon Boston, 33, of Chipley, Florida;
\nBrick Mason \u2013 Mancill Masonry, LLC<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Chassity Lynn Lee, 31, of Bonifay, Florida;
\nAuto Parts Employee<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jennifer Marie McCabe, 30, of Bonifay, Florida;
\nHolmes County Council on Aging<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Justina Rae Williams, 30, of Caryville, Florida;
\nUnemployed<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Joseph Bailey Alexander, 22, of Chipley, Florida;
\nPoker Dealer<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Douglas Edward Mixon, 60, of Westville, Florida;
\nFarmer<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dwayne Frazier White, 49, of Bonifay, Florida
\nFormer City of Bonifay Police Officer<\/p>\n

Duane Crawson, Davey Mancill, James Paul, and Danyel Witt face an additional charge of aggravated
\nidentity theft, which carries a penalty of a minimum 2 years imprisonment consecutive to any other
\nterm of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. In addition, Crawson also faces charges of income tax
\nevasion, carrying a maximum of 5 years imprisonment and a $100,000 fine; and obstruction of\u00a0Internal Revenue laws, carrying a maximum of 3 years imprisonment and a $5,000 fine.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) was created to help stabilize the U.S. livestock
\nindustry and support producers whose grazing lands were significantly damaged by drought.
\nThose involved in fraud and abuse of USDA farm programs will be investigated by our office to the
\nfullest extent. This is particularly applicable for USDA employees who violate the trust vested in
\nthem by American taxpayers,\u201d said U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General
\nSpecial Agent-in-Charge Bethanne M. Dinkins. \u201cIn this joint investigation with the Internal Revenue
\nService-Criminal Investigation, we worked together to identify those who sought to profit from the
\nLFP through illegal schemes. The USDA Office of Inspector General will continue to dedicate
\ninvestigative resources and work with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of
\nthese programs and bring to justice those who commit fraud.\u201d<\/p>\n

The indictment culminates a 20-month investigation conducted by a partnership of law enforcement
\nagencies and prosecutors at all levels of government, including the United States Department of
\nAgriculture-Office of Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service- Criminal Investigations.
\nAssistant United States Attorney Jason R. Coody is prosecuting the case.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose who violate their oaths and abuse positions of trust in our community do so out of greed.
\nIRS Special Agents are uniquely skilled to follow the money trail and bring to light financial
\ntransactions conducted in such ways as to stay undetected,\u201d stated Ron Loecker, Assistant Special
\nAgent in Charge for IRS Criminal Investigation\u2019s Tampa Field Office. \u201cIRS is a committed partner of
\nthe U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office Public Integrity Unit and we stand ready to ensure our public officials
\nwork honestly in communities throughout northern Florida.\u201d<\/p>\n

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of
\nfederal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and
\nentitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government\u2019s burden to prove guilt beyond a
\nreasonable doubt in a court of law.<\/p>\n

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that
\nserve as the nation\u2019s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access
\npublic court documents online, please visit the\u00a0U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida\u00a0<\/a>website.\u00a0 For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit\u00a0http:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao\/fln\/index.html<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Farm Service Agency Executive Director, Former Clerk Of Court, And 27 Others Indicted For Conspiracy To Commit Wire Fraud And Theft Of Government Funds PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA \u2013 A federal grand jury in Tallahassee has returned a far-reaching indictment that unveils a criminal network of 29 people who actively worked to defraud the federal government […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27588,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,72],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27637","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-breaking","category-theftandfraud","last_archivepost"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27637","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27637"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27637\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27639,"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27637\/revisions\/27639"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27588"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27637"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27637"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27637"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}