As a part of the presentencing, Nelson’s legal professional offered the court docket greater than 30 emails and letters from family and friends in assist of his character.
In keeping with Nelson’s memorandum, the 68-year-old farmer has a number of well being circumstances that may very well be additional sophisticated with imprisonment.
“Except for this offense, Mr. Nelson has developed a popularity in his group for being form, beneficiant, caring, and useful,” the memo stated.
“Over 30 people have written letters in assist of his character for his sentencing listening to. They describe a wide range of situations the place Mr. Nelson demonstrated generosity and a honest concern for others, together with situations the place he supported native service teams, cared for others in occasions of hardship, cleared snow for family and friends, donated to native companies and colleges, pulled others’ automobiles out of ditches, and even introduced individuals donuts as a present.”
Nelson’s legal professional stated he has paid $348,695 towards his complete obligation of $548,695 in restitution.
As well as, Nelson’s memo in contrast the sentencing of one other Minnesota farmer not too long ago as purpose for Nelson to obtain probation.
“This previous 12 months one other farmer in Becker County defrauded the federal government by falsifying his grain haul and taking out fraudulent loans within the title of relations for grain that by no means truly existed,” Nelson’s memo stated.
“The Becker County farmer defrauded the federal government of over $1.4 million. The person was sentenced to pay $1.4 million in restitution and serve three years’ probation.”
In November 2021, Robert Waldon John Anderson, 67, additionally was ordered to serve 150 hours of group service for changing collateral that secured loans from the USDA. On Could 6, 2021, Anderson pleaded responsible to at least one depend of conversion of Commodity Credit score Corp. safety.
Nelson, a Lake Park, Minnesota, corn and soybean farmer, was charged in September 2021 after allegedly reporting false data to the FCIC in 2018.
In keeping with court docket paperwork, in 2018 and 2019, Nelson “falsely reported losses in these years to acquire crop insurance coverage funds to which he was not entitled, leading to his receipt of $548,695 in fraudulent funds.” As a part of the plea settlement, Nelson is to repay the quantity to the FCIC.
Nelson falsely licensed to ARMtech Insurance coverage Providers that he was “entitled to $117,740 for corn and soybean crops misplaced to extra moisture in Becker and Clay counties, Minnesota, all in violation of title 18, United States Code, Part 1014,” in line with the settlement.
Learn extra on DTN:
“Minnesota Farmer To Be Sentenced on Insurance coverage Fraud,” https://www.dtnpf.com/…
Todd Neeley might be reached at todd.neeley@dtn.com
Comply with him on Twitter @DTNeeley
(c) Copyright 2022 DTN, LLC. All rights reserved.