Court upholds conviction, sentence “Spud Scam”

FARGO, N.D. (AP) – An appeals court has upheld the conviction and sentence of a North Dakota farmer who was found guilty of intentionally destroying potatoes to collect federal farm insurance payments.
 
     A jury in December 2014 found Aaron Johnson, who lived near Cooperstown, guilty of conspiring to receive illegal payments and making false statements. He was sentenced to four years in prison.
 
     Authorities say Johnson added chemicals used in septic systems to the spuds to speed up deterioration.
 
     Johnson argued in his appeal that the government’s key witness was not credible. A three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said in an opinion released Wednesday that there was sufficient evidence to support the outcome.
 
     Aaron Johnson’s brother, Derek, was convicted in the case and sentence to 1 1/2 years in prison.