Grimy Times – Ricky Nelson Dawson, a 54-year-old from Autauga County, Alabama, has been handed a 60-month sentence by United States District Judge Myron H. Thompson for his conviction on wire fraud charges stemming from the theft of approximately $6.2 million in government-issued checks.
Dawson, who worked as a director with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development programs since 2000, was found guilty of embezzling funds intended for USDA payments to local water authorities and electric utilities. The scheme involved diverting checks made payable to ‘Rural Development’ into his own account under the guise of another entity named ‘Ryal Development Farm’.
Between March 2007 and May 2012, Dawson systematically deposited these checks into First Community Bank in Chatom, making fraudulent alterations to the payee names. He then transferred the funds to his personal accounts at Regions Bank and E*TRADE Securities. After accounting for ‘repayments’ made to Authorities and USDA from subsequent thefts, Dawson netted approximately $3.8 million.
The investigation into Dawson’s activities was conducted by the FBI and USDA’s Office of Inspector General, with the case prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew O. Schiff and Tommie B. Hardwick. Dawson has been free on a $25,000 bond but will report to prison on May 31, 2013.
A hearing for determining restitution is scheduled within 90 days of his surrender date. The case serves as a stark reminder of the potential for corruption within government agencies and the meticulous efforts required to root out such malfeasance.
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Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Public Corruption|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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