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Plea Deal for Philly Farmer: Metropolis Farms Founder Faces 20 Years for Wire Fraud, Tax Evasion
PHILADELPHIA – In a stunning turn of events, John ‘Jack’ Griffin, 62, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and tax evasion charges in a United States District Court on Wednesday. Griffin, the principal and founder of Second Story Farming Inc., which operated under the name Metropolis Farms, faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for his crimes.
As detailed in court documents and statements made during the proceedings, Griffin sold vertical farming systems to two companies in 2017, along with the necessary equipment, supplies, materials, and operational instructions. However, Griffin provided grossly inflated financial projections to the companies, which they relied on to make their payments. Instead of using the funds to provide the vertical farms, Griffin used the majority of the money to cover his personal expenses and fund Second Story Farming’s research and development efforts.
Griffin’s scheme was not limited to the financial projections. The 62-year-old farmer also failed to file a tax return for 2017, despite earning income from his work at Second Story Farming. In an attempt to conceal his income, Griffin withdrew cash from his business’s bank accounts, paid personal expenses, and transferred funds to his wife.
The investigation into Griffin’s crimes was a collaborative effort between the IRS Criminal Investigation, the FBI, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis Weber and Trial Attorney Catriona Coppler of the Department of Justice’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
Griffin is scheduled to be sentenced on October 22. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison on each of the wire fraud charges and up to 5 years for tax evasion. The full extent of Griffin’s sentence will be determined by the court at a later date.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of white-collar crime. Griffin’s actions not only harmed his business partners but also undermined the trust of his community. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen how far-reaching the impact of Griffin’s crimes will be.
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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