This story is wild
Colorado ranchers tampered with NOAA weather instruments to reduce reported rainfall in order to collect more federal drought relief money.
But, then their co-conspirator escaped from prison … t.co/83hwmWDP0D
— Ryan Maue (@RyanMaue) March 10, 2024
Two southeastern Colorado ranch owners were recently sentenced to pay $6.6 million to resolve federal charges that they damaged or altered rain gauges in an effort to get paid for worsening drought conditions.
By preventing the rain gauges from accurately measuring precipitation, the men aimed to increase the amount of money they could receive from the federal government, according to court documents.
Patrick Esch, 72, and Ed Dean Jagers, 62, both of Springfield, received short prison sentences – Esch two months and Jagers six. They also were ordered to pay a combined $3.1 million in restitution – the estimated amount of fraudulently inflated funds they received from the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation. As well, they agreed to pay a combined $3.5 million to settle the allegations.
The cases against Esch and Jager included civil allegations and criminal charges accusing the men of making false statements and defrauding the federal government, in addition to the physical tampering of the rain gauges.
“Hardworking farmers and ranchers depend on USDA crop insurance programs, and we will not allow these programs to be abused,” U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado Cole Finegan stated in a press release. “This case also shows the full measure of justice that can be achieved when our office uses both civil and criminal tools to protect vital government programs.”