Tennessee Man Sentenced to Over 3 Years in Federal Prison for Crop Insurance Fraud

Bowling Green, KY – A Lafayette, Tennessee, man was sentenced yesterday to 3 years and 6 months in federal prison for defrauding the federal crop insurance program.  

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Miles Davis of the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General, Administrator Marcia Bunger of the United States Department of Agriculture, Risk Management Agency (RMA), and RMA Special Investigations Division, and Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement.

According to court documents, David Garrett Manion, 61, was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $3.5 million in restitution, for defrauding the federal crop insurance program between 2016 and 2022. Manion also has a prior 2016 conviction for defrauding the federal crop insurance program. As part of that 2016 case, Manion agreed to a five-year debarment from the federal crop insurance program administered by the United States Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency. While that case was being resolved, however, Manion devised a scheme under which other family members applied for and received crop insurance for tobacco that was farmed by and belonged to Manion. In addition to $3.5 million in criminal restitution, Manion agreed to pay the Risk Management Agency nearly $5.5 million to resolve other outstanding issues.  

There is no parole in the federal system.

The case was investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General, the Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency, Special Investigations, and the FBI Bowling Green Resident Agency.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Weiser prosecuted the case.

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