LEXINGTON, Ky. – A 71-year-old Georgetown cattle farmer, Robert Conley, has confessed to systematically looting COVID-19 relief funds. Conley pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell to one count of providing a false claim, a brazen act of greed that exploited a national crisis.
The scheme revolved around the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, specifically the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). While legitimate farmers struggled through the pandemic, Conley saw opportunity. CFAP was designed to support agricultural producers facing losses, but Conley didn’t just apply himself – he weaponized others.
According to the plea agreement, Conley submitted two legitimate CFAP applications. Then, he strong-armed four individuals into submitting false applications, claiming they owned a share of his cattle operation. These unwitting pawns received a staggering $1,206,539.80 in CFAP funds, which Conley then directed them to hand over to him. It wasn’t enough. He further submitted three false PPP applications, falsely claiming payroll expenses for those same individuals tied to his cattle business, netting another $72,660.
Federal investigators, led by the USDA Office of Inspector General and IRS-Criminal Investigations, pieced together the intricate web of deceit. Acting United States Attorney Paul McCaffrey, Acting Special Agent in Charge Janet M. Sorensen, and Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd announced the guilty plea, signaling a commitment to cracking down on pandemic-related fraud. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Smith is prosecuting the case.
Conley is scheduled to be sentenced on October 9, 2025. He faces a maximum of five years in federal prison. However, the judge will consider U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and federal statutes before determining his punishment. This case is part of the broader COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, established by the Attorney General to aggressively pursue those who exploited the pandemic for personal gain.
If you have information about COVID-19 related fraud, report it to the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or through their web complaint form: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. Don’t let these predators profit from a national tragedy.
Related Federal Cases
- KY Farmer Conley Milks COVID Relief for Over $1.2M · Kentucky
- Blind Fraud: Kentucky Vet Gets 2 Years for VA Scam · Alabama
- COVID-19 Relief Scammer Gets 12 Years in the Joint · Kentucky
- Lexington Couple Nabbed for $357K COVID Loan Scam · Kentucky
- Chicago Attorney Gets 3+ Years for Bankruptcy Scam · Illinois
Key Facts
- State: Kentucky
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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