PIERRE, (KCCR) — A federal civil judgment has been entered against two Sully County farmers who were convicted in 2022 of crop insurance fraud. U-S Attorney Alison Ramdell says the judgment orders James and Levi Garrett to pay a combined total of four-million, 19-thousand 820 dollars to clear up violations of the False Claims act from crop insurance fraud in 2018 and 2019. The Garrett’s falsely certified to a crop insurance company they planted 22-hundred acres of sunflowers when they did not, the wrongfully received indemnity as if the entire crop failed. In 2019, James Garrett falsely certified the planting of 47-and-a-half acres of corn as part of a larger claim, when no corn was in the ground. The Garretts received over one-point-three million dollars from the fraud. Ramsdell says protecting taxpayer funded programs from fraud and abuse is a top priory and the case is proof her office will seek both criminal and civil consequences for individuals who submit false and fraudulent claims.
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