Missouri farmer gets prison term for organic farming fraud

Another player in the “Field of Schemes” case—the largest organic grain fraud plot in U.S. history—will spend time behind bars.

John Burton of Missouri is the fifth farmer to receive a prison sentence; a federal judge in Cedar Rapids sentenced him to 22 months. Burton supposedly grew non-organic grain and sold it to farmer Randy Constant, knowing that Constant was going to market and sell it as organic. Burton even sprayed Constant’s fields with chemicals and fertilizers not allowed in organic standards.

Constant is regarded as the mastermind of the $142 million fraud scheme. He died by suicide, shortly before he was to begin his ten-year prison term.

Three growers from Nebraska have also received prison sentences for participating in the fraud.

Source: Associated Press

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