Kansas farmer sentenced for crop insurance fraud

A Kansas farmer was sentenced today to 30 months for federal crop insurance fraud and bankruptcy fraud. An additional fine of $604,303 was ordered to pay in restitution.

Kevin W. Struss, 63, of Wakeeney, pleaded guilty to one count of defrauding the U.S. Department of Agriculture's crop innsurance program, which provides government insurance against unavoidable crop losses. He made false statements under-reporting his total 2015 corn crop by approximately 23,524 bushels, and his total sorghum/milo crop by 31,208 bushels.

He also pleaded guilty to one count of bankruptcy/fraud. He falsely answered "no" to a question about whether he had recently transferred property to anyone in his bankruptcy filing. He actually made two transfers of $150,000 and $320,000 to another person in 2018.