NILES, Mich. (WSBT) — A Niles farmer accused of getting federal crop insurance coverage and benefits for crops he did not farm will pay tens of thousands of dollars to the federal government.
David Zelmer will pay more than $87,000 to settle the allegation he violated the False Claims Act.
The US Attorney's Office claims Zelmer leased parts of the land he owned in Berrien County to another farmer between 2015 and 2017.
He then claimed to be the sole producer of the crops, when he was not.
You can be forgiven if, in the political chaos of the last week, you missed the all year. Maybe in a few years. Yet Senate Bill 1611 — the so-called ag-to-urban bill — on that day with wide bipart...