Ricky Nelson Dawson, a 54-year-old man from Autauga County, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for his role in a $6.2 million theft scheme. Dawson, a U.S. Department of Agriculture Employee, was found guilty of wire fraud, a crime that involves using electronic means to deceive and steal from others.
Between March 2007 and May 2012, Dawson embezzled checks from various water authorities and electric utilities, depositing them into an account he had opened at First Community Bank in Chatom. The checks, all payable to ‘Rural Development’ or a variation thereof, were intended as payment to the USDA, but Dawson manipulated them to appear as if ‘Ryal Development Farm’ was the payee.
Dawson’s scheme was uncovered after a thorough investigation by the FBI and USDA’s Office of Inspector General. The authorities found that Dawson had deposited over $6.2 million in checks, with the majority of the funds coming from water authorities and electric utilities.
According to the court records, Dawson used the stolen funds to make payments to the authorities that had issued the checks and to the USDA. However, he netted approximately $3.8 million after making these ‘repayments.’
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew O. Schiff and Tommie B. Hardwick. Dawson has been free on a $25,000 unsecured bond and was ordered to report to prison on May 31, 2013.
The $6.2 million theft is one of the largest in recent history, and Dawson’s sentence reflects the severity of his crimes. This case serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in government agencies.
Ricky Nelson Dawson, a former director of the USDA’s Rural Development programs, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for his role in a $6.2 million theft scheme. The case was investigated by the FBI and USDA’s Office of Inspector General and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew O. Schiff and Tommie B. Hardwick.
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Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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