By Leisa R. Boley-Hellwarth

The trouble started when James Garrett (68) and Levi Garrett (44), father and son, made false statements in connection with federal crop insurance. The Garretts farmed in Sully County, South Dakota. In 2018, they claimed losses for 2,200 acres of sunflowers. James also claimed losses from 47.5 acres of corn in 2019. Total indemnity amounted to $1.3 million. There was a problem, however, as neither James nor Levi planted any sunflowers in 2018, and James did not plant 47.5 acres of corn in 2019.

Following an investigation, James and Levi were charged in a multi-count superseding indictment. Please note that prosecutors literally make a federal criminal case out of crop insurance fraud, as the funds involved are from the U.S. government.

In October 2022, after

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