Wisconsin Farmer Lewke Gets Six Months for Crop Insurance Scam

MILWAUKEE, WI – Jeffrey Lewke, 39, of Waushara County, Wisconsin, is trading in his tractor for a federal prison cell after being sentenced to six months behind bars for a brazen crop insurance fraud scheme. U.S. Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad announced the sentence on April 27, 2017, following Lewke’s conviction for violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001 – making false statements to the federal government.

The scam targeted the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC), a USDA program designed to provide a safety net for farmers facing unavoidable crop losses. The FCIC reinsures private crop insurance companies, effectively footing the bill when policyholders file claims. Lewke exploited this system, attempting to pocket nearly $63,000 through falsified information.

According to court documents, Lewke admitted to lying about the amount of irrigation on 120 acres of land during the 2011 growing season. This was just the tip of the iceberg. The total value of fraudulent claims Lewke submitted that year reached a staggering $246,606.53. He didn’t stop at irrigation lies. Lewke falsely claimed land was unplantable due to moisture when it was either already planted, a horse pasture, or he hadn’t even *tried* to plant it.

The deceit didn’t end there. Lewke attempted to “shift” his production, claiming corn grown in Clark County was actually grown in Dodge County to fraudulently claim $70,000 in insurance payments. The scheme was elaborate, calculated, and designed to enrich Lewke at the expense of a vital program meant to support honest farmers. He was operating over 12,000 acres during the 2011 season, raking in profits while simultaneously trying to fleece the government.

At the sentencing hearing, District Judge Pamela Pepper didn’t mince words, calling the federal crop insurance program a “safety net” for farmers in genuine need and condemning Lewke for stealing from it while enjoying his own agricultural success. In addition to the six-month prison sentence, Lewke was ordered to serve another six months of home confinement, pay a $2,000 fine, and provide $23,799.44 in restitution to the USDA.

The investigation was spearheaded by the United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, with prosecution handled by Assistant United States Attorney Keith S. Alexander. This case serves as a stark warning: attempting to defraud the federal government, even in the agricultural sector, will be met with swift and severe consequences.