3 Idaho Farmers Settle Suit

According to federal prosecutors, three farmers in Eastern Idaho have paid a total of $500,000 to settle allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting fraudulent Coronavirus Food Assistance Program applications. The settlement resolves allegations that the three knowingly and impermissibly included millions of pounds of potatoes on applications by two of them that were actually owned by the third farmer. In this way, they obtained funds that they were not eligible to receive. The settlement is a result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho.