A Southwest Florida farmer has reached a plea deal related to his role in a larger federal fraud conspiracy.
Mark Frisbie pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement in a federal crop-insurance claim.
According to court documents, he committed the crime while working as a farmer and agricultural-chemical salesman "in or around Immokalee, Florida," under a growing partnership with an unnamed conspirator, described only as "Coconspirator 1."
Frisbie managed the farm for the partnership and shared the profits and losses (under a 40-60 split).
During the partnership, he admitted to frequently dealing with "Coconspirator 2," knowing he directly reported to "Coconspirator 1."
Frisbie pleaded guilty to signing a false federal crop-insurance claim for the partnership's fall bell pepper crop in 2020 that grossly underestimated production and sales.
Based on the claim, Frisbie received $253,391 in payouts and subsidized producer premiums, when he would have been entitled to "none of these payments," according to court documents.
Frisbie acknowledged receiving a report from "Coconspirator 2" that showed the fall crop generated nearly 10 times the sales he certified for the false insurance claim
The report listed more than $1.05 million in sales, to which Frisbie responded, "nice average" and "thanks for all the hard work, brother."
Frisbie signed the plea deal on Sept. 8. In doing so, he waived the right to be charged by way of indictment before a federal grand jury.
In...
A Southwest Florida farmer has reached a plea deal related to his role in a larger federal fraud conspiracy. Mark Frisbie pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement in a federal crop-...