Terry Gene Hummer, Wire Fraud, Kansas 2023

TOPEKA, KAN. - A Topeka man has been sentenced to a month in federal prison and ordered to pay $38,000 in restitution to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.

Terry Gene Hummer, 64, Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. In his plea, he admitted he obtained loans from USDA Rural Development for developing housing in rural areas. He provided false information to Rural Development representing there were substantial funds on deposit in reserve accounts when in fact he had converted most of those funds for his own use.

In one instance in 2009, he made false representations that a reserve account contained $29,526 when in fact there was only 69 cents in the account.

Grissom commended the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rich Hathaway for their work on the case.

Hummer's scheme was uncovered after a thorough investigation by the USDA Office of Inspector General, which worked closely with the U.S. Attorney's Office to build a case against the defendant.

The investigation revealed that Hummer's false claims were made in order to obtain loans from USDA Rural Development, which are designed to help develop housing in rural areas.

Hummer's sentencing is a reminder that those who commit fraud against the government will be held accountable for their actions.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ks/pr/topeka-man-sentenced-fraud-against-usda-rural-development