Mark Frisbie agrees to plead guilty in a federal crop insurance case and pay $3.26 million in restitution

First reported by Olivia Jean at WINK News, Immokalee area farmer Mark Frisbie has agreed to plead guilty to one count of making a false statement in a federal crop insurance claim.

The plea agreement filed Tuesday says Frisbie will pay $1,748,408 in restitution to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and $1,506,992.26 to the Farm Service Agency. The combined amount is $3,255,400.26.

What the agreement says

The factual basis says Frisbie reported $759,022.55 in bell pepper sales across crop insurance claims covering several crop years. Federal prosecutors say other records showed more than $6.7 million in sales and that the resulting bell pepper indemnity overpayment was $1,660,938.

The agreement also describes a round tomato claim that prosecutors say produced an additional $87,470 overpayment. Frisbie agrees in the document to cooperate with the federal investigation and prosecution of other people.

The court has not sentenced Frisbie. The agreement says the judge is not bound by the parties' sentencing recommendations.

The unnamed farming partner

The court document describes farming partners only as Coconspirator 1 and Coconspirator 2. WINK reports that its sources identify Coconspirator 1 as Oakes Farms owner Alfie Oakes. The agreement itself does not name Oakes, and Oakes has not been charged in this case.

WINK reports that Frisbie's attorney, Simon Gaugush, said Frisbie has accepted responsibility for conduct related to the charge and is cooperating. The outlet says Oakes and his attorney did not respond to its questions.

WINK reports that Frisbie is scheduled to enter the plea in federal court on September 29.