News
Couple sentenced in USDA fraud case
By Ainslee S. Wittig/Arizona Range News
A Willcox couple who had pleaded guilty to defrauding the U.S. Department of Agriculture was sentenced Dec. 22 by U.S. District Judge Cindy Jorgenson in Tucson, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Sergio Renteria was sentenced to one year in federal prison followed by six years of supervised release.
His wife, Sandra, was sentenced to six years of probation.
The couple was also ordered to pay restitution of more than $200,000, the release said.
The two pleaded guilty to misuse of property that had been pledged as collateral and concealing property in a bankruptcy proceeding.
The Renterias and their daughter Kayla Taylor of Phoenix obtained loans totaling more than $800,000 from the Farm Service Agency. They failed to make payments on the loans and fraudulently sold farm equipment and crops that were pledged as security for the loans, the release said.
The couple later filed for bankruptcy, but concealed assets from the Bankruptcy Court.
The investigation was conducted by the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Sergio Renteria was sentenced to one year in federal prison followed by six years of supervised release.
His wife, Sandra, was sentenced to six years of probation.
The couple was also ordered to pay restitution of more than $200,000, the release said.
The two pleaded guilty to misuse of property that had been pledged as collateral and concealing property in a bankruptcy proceeding.
The Renterias and their daughter Kayla Taylor of Phoenix obtained loans totaling more than $800,000 from the Farm Service Agency. They failed to make payments on the loans and fraudulently sold farm equipment and crops that were pledged as security for the loans, the release said.
The couple later filed for bankruptcy, but concealed assets from the Bankruptcy Court.
The investigation was conducted by the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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