Allen County, Kentucky, Farmers Charged With Crop Insurance Fraud

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Two Allen County, Kentucky, farmers were charged by federal Informations today with crop insurance fraud announced United States Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr.

According to the separate federal Informations, David Manion, 53, and Henry Manion, 48, aided and abetted by others, knowingly made false statements and reports on applications for insurance. Both defendants allegedly made false statements for the purpose of influencing the actions (insurance payments) of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and Producers Agriculture Insurance Company, a company insured by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation.

The alleged violations by Henry Manion occurred between August 10, 2009, and February 14, 2012, in the Western District of Kentucky, Allen County, Kentucky, and elsewhere. The alleged violations by David Manion occurred between August 25, 2009, and February 7, 2012, in the Western District of Kentucky, Allen County, Kentucky, and elsewhere.

If convicted at trial, the defendants each face no more than 30 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000 and a five year period of supervised release.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Weiser and are being investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Inspector General (OIG).

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The indictment of a person by a Federal Information is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.