Man pleads guilty to stealing federal funds through cattle operation in KY
A Kentucky man pleaded guilty to federal fraud for stealing COVID-19 and small business funding from federal assistance programs.
Robert Conley pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal false claims July 2, according to court documents.
Conley admitted in a plea agreement he directed four individuals to file false Coronavirus Food Assistance Program applications for his cattle operation.
Their claims said they owned 20% of Conley’s cattle and they received $1.2 million of federal funds that were provided back to Conley.
Conley also submitted three false application with the Small Business Administration that stated three of the individuals were employees for the cattle operation.
These individuals did not own cattle and were not a part of the operation.
More than $72,000 was obtained from the false paycheck protection applications.
This guilty plea is not pertaining to Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Robert Conley, officials confirmed.
Conley faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 with three years of supervised release. Court documents did not detail where the crimes took place.
He is required to pay in restitution of $1.2 million to the department of agriculture and $72,000 to the Small Business Administration.
His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 9 in Lexington.
