A Morehouse doctor has been convicted of defrauding the Crop Loss Disaster Assistance Program.
Dr. Daniel Estes Crook, a physician and farmer in Franklin and Catahoula parishes, was convicted by a federal jury late Tuesday afternoon of bilking the Farm Service Agency out of $477,792 in federal disaster benefits and emergency loan money that were obtained based on false statements, United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced Wednesday.
Crook, 54, of Mer Rouge, was convicted at trial on two counts of making false statement or reports to the Farm Service Agency, the successor to the Farmers Home Administration, when he submitted applications on behalf of Crook Farms Partnership for crop loss disaster benefits and emergency loan money that was designed to offset the 1998 drought.
According to the indictment, on the first count, Crook submitted an application to the CLDAP, stating that his farm partnership was only able to harvest approximately 29,106.94 cwt (hundred weight) of rice during the 1998 crop season, when in fact the stated production on the application was under-represented. Count two of the indictment stated Crook certified on a “Certification of Disaster Losses” that the partnership had a rice yield of 23.98 cwt (hundred weight) per acre for a total of 1,558.20 acres for the 1998 crop disaster year, when in fact the yield was understated by Crook.
The jury also convicted Crook on six counts of trading and/or selling equipment that was collateral for another $500,000 loan, of which Crook still owes $276,161.64. The equipment was sold for $155,100.
Crook faces up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000 or both, for each count of making false statements. He faces up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both, for each count of converting mortgaged property. Sentencing is set for Nov. 8.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robin S. McCoy, C. Mignonne Griffing and Alexander Van Hook.
