Spokane Mann pleads guilty to $ 12 million grass seed fraud programs

Crime and Courts

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A former manager of a Washington-based company that produced and sold grass seeds and turfgrass to independent growers in Oregon has admitted that there have been misnomer, pyramid and real estate investment programs that defrauded customers and gave him more than 12 million Brought in US dollars.

Oregonian / OregonLive reports that Spokane, Wash., 52-year-old Christopher Claypool pleaded guilty Monday to conspiring on wire fraud and money laundering when he first appeared in Portland federal court.

If Claypool is convicted in June, prosecutors will seek a four-year prison sentence if he meets the conditions of his release prior to conviction, including paying a $ 8.3 million refund plus unpaid taxes.

Prosecutors say the various programs ran from around 2015 to August 2019.

News / Oregon Northwest