The U.S. attorney’s office in Cedar Rapids, Iowa has filed charges against the alleged mastermind of a 7.5-year organic scheme involving farmers from Nebraska and Missouri. The Chillicothe, Missouri ringleader is expected to appear in court Thursday, AP reports.
Randy Constant owned and operated two organic companies in Missouri and Nebraska. Prosecutors say more than 90% of his grain was non-organic and purchased from other farmers, AP reports. The scheme resulted in sales to 10 customers for more than $142 million.
Constant was the ringleader of a previously reported fraud involving three Nebraska farmers: Tom Brennan, James Brennan and Michael Potter. The Overton, Neb. farmers will each plead guilty to one count of wire fraud.
Read more from AP here.
