Kentucky Farmer Admits to Multi-Year Crop Insurance Fraud Using Family Names

Robert Thomas Hunt, a farmer from Taylor County, Kentucky, has pleaded guilty to defrauding the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation out of nearly $1.5 million over a seven-year period. According to court documents, Hunt manipulated insurance claims between 2015 and 2021 by directing grain haulers to sell crops under the names of his children, wife, and a landowner—none of whom had an insurable interest. This deception enabled Hunt to falsely report lower crop yields and receive inflated insurance payments.

The crops involved included corn, soybeans, and wheat, with falsified losses occurring in multiple years. Hunt also used alternate addresses for his children to further obscure the paper trail. The total fraudulent insurance payments amounted to $1,494,054. As part of his plea agreement, Hunt has agreed to repay the full amount and accept a seven-year exclusion from all USDA programs, including those under the Federal Crop Insurance Act and Farm Service Agency.

While the felony charge carries a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison, federal sentencing guidelines suggest a significantly shorter term. The court is scheduled to sentence Hunt in June. This case is part of a broader federal investigation into crop insurance fraud in Kentucky, which has resulted in charges against over 30 individuals since 2017, most linked to tobacco farming operations.