A DANBURY, IOWA FARMER ACCUSED OF STEALING OVER A MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS IN AGRICULTURAL SUBSIDIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, STEALING MULTIPLE IDENTITIES, AND STALKING A VICTIM AND WITNESS IN HIS CASE, HAS PLED GUILTY IN SIOUX CITY FEDERAL COURT.
32-YEAR-OLD TANNER JAMES SEUNTJENS WAS CONVICTED OF ONE COUNT OF THEFT OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS, ONE COUNT OF AGGRAVATED IDENTITY THEFT, ONE COUNT OF CROP INSURANCE FRAUD, AND ONE COUNT OF STALKING.
IN A PLEA AGREEMENT, SEUNTJENS ADMITTED THAT, BETWEEN JUNE 2020 AND JUNE 2021, HE DEFRAUDED THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE OUT OF MORE THAN $1.5 MILLION IN CORONAVIRUS FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM GRANT MONEYS.
HE FILED APPLICATIONS AT THREE IOWA COUNTY USDA-FARM SERVICE AGENCY OFFICES IN HIS OWN NAME AND IN THE NAMES OF ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL AND A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY THAT EACH FALSELY CLAIMED OWNERSHIP OF THOUSANDS OF SWINE.
SEUNTJENS ALSO ADMITTED THAT, FROM MARCH 2021 THROUGH APRIL 2022, HE DEFRAUDED A SOUTH DAKOTA BANK BY FORGING AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BANK’S SIGNATURE ON TWO-PARTY CHECKS NO LESS THAN 20 TIMES AND, AS A RESULT, DEPRIVED THE BANK OF MORE THAN $400,000 OF ITS COLLATERAL.
SEUNTJENS ALSO ADMITTED HE COMMITTED CROP INSURANCE FRAUD IN 2022 AND 2023, REPEATEDLY UNDERREPORTING HIS CROP YIELDS IN THOSE SEASONS, RECEIVING CROP INSURANCE FUNDS TO WHICH HE WAS NOT ENTITLED.
FINALLY, SEUNTJENS ADMITTED TO STALKING ANOTHER PERSON WHO WAS A VICTIM AND WITNESS IN THE FEDERAL CASE IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR, WHILE ON PRETRIAL RELEASE, TRAVELLING TO THE PERSON’S WORKPLACE IN NEBRASKA AND PLACING A TRACKING DEVICE ON THE PERSON’S CAR.
HE ADMITTED HE DID SO WITH THE INTENT TO HARASS AND INTIMIDATE THE WITNESS AND TO PLACE THE PERSON UNDER SURVEILLANCE.
SENTENCING BEFORE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUDGE LEONARD T. STRAND WILL BE SET AFTER A PRESENTENCE REPORT IS PREPARED.
SEUNTJENS REMAINS IN CUSTODY OF THE UNITED STATES MARSHAL PENDING SENTENCING.
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