YAKIMA — Four Eastern Washington farmers and processors have pleaded innocent to federal conspiracy charges that allege they made false reports to defraud the federal crop insurance program of more than $9.5 million.
According to the indictment, the farmers entered into contracts to sell a variety of potatoes not typically suited for processing to the processors. When the potatoes failed to meet processing requirements, the contracts allegedly required the growers to sell the potatoes for a fraction of their value.
A grand jury indicted Jeffrey J. Gordon, a Pasco farmer and owner of Gordon Brothers Cellars winery; Lynn J. Olsen II of Pasco and his company Olsen Ag Inc.; Mark G. Peterson of Richland and his company Poco LLC; and Blake T. Bennett of Pasco and his company Tri-Cities Produce Inc.
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