Two Minnesota farmers are accused of conspiring to sell more than $46 million in chemically treated crops as organic, federal prosecutors announced Friday.
James Clayton Wolf, 65, and Adam Clifford Olson, 45, both certified organic farmers in Cottonwood County, were each charged with three counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy.
Wolf had previously been charged in federal court with felony wire fraud before being named in Friday’s superseding indictment.
ARKANSAS ATTORNEY PLEADS GUILTY IN ROLE IN DEFRAUDING FARM PROGRAMS
The indictment alleges that between 2014 and 2021 Wolf defrauded grain purchasers by claiming crops treated with chemical fertilizers and pesticides were organic.
Two Minnesota farmers were charged with wire fraud and conspiracy for allegedly planning to pass nearly $50 million worth of chemically treated crops as organic.
(Fox News)
Organic crops are grown from non-GMO seeds and without chemicals or fertilizers.
FORMER CEO OF MISSISSIPPI GRAIN COMPANY INDICTED ON FEDERAL, STATE FRAUD CHARGES
Olson is charged with helping Wolf sell crops falsely described as organic after Wolf’s organic farming certification was revoked in 2020.
Wolf made his initial appearance in the previous indictment on July 22. Olson is scheduled to make his initial appearance on Jan. 26.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Attorneys for Wolf and Olson did not return calls Friday seeking comment.
