Michigan Farmer Lincoln Avoids Prison

LINCOLN, Neb. (DTN) -- Springport, Michigan, farmer Gaylord Lincoln will not serve prison time after pleading guilty to theft of public money resulting from a federal investigation into alleged federal crop insurance and farm benefits fraud. A federal judge sentenced him to one day of imprisonment with credit for time served.

A grand jury indicted Lincoln in 2022 on 13 counts. That included wire fraud and mail fraud in connection with an alleged scheme to set up so-called sham farming operations using the names of family members and farm employees to apply for and receive additional crop insurance benefits he wouldn't have qualified for otherwise.

He later pleaded guilty to theft of public money under $1,000 as part of a plea agreement. In presentencing memorandums, Lincoln's attorneys cited health problems as a reason for seeking no jail time.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Eastern Michigan also sentenced him to one year of supervised release, according to court documents. The court waived the costs of imprisonment and supervision due to a "lack of financial resources." The court did not require Lincoln to pay additional restitution after he has paid back about $900,000 of the $1.2 million he agreed to pay.

U.S. attorneys had sought jail time for Lincoln, who could have received a maximum of one year in jail for the charge.

The U.S. government alleged in a complaint in December 2021 that Lincoln violated the False Claims Act by maintaining a "scheme to fraudulently" obtain more federal farm benefit program payments than he was entitled to receive.

According to court documents, Lincoln previously entered into a settlement agreement in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan. In that 2021 case, Lincoln agreed to pay the U.S. $1.2 million plus interest.

In September 2022, a federal grand jury handed down indictments, including four counts for making a false statement to obtain crop insurance, five counts of wire fraud and four counts of mail fraud. That same month, U.S. attorneys dropped the 2021 lawsuit as part of the settlement.

Lincoln's farm operates on land across four counties in south-central Michigan, including Calhoun, Eaton, Ingham and Jackson.

Read more on DTN:

"Michigan Farmer Asks for No Jail Time," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

"US Seeks Prison for Michigan Farmer," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Todd Neeley can be reached at todd.neeley@dtn.com

Follow him on social platform X @DTNeeley

(c) Copyright 2025 DTN, LLC. All rights reserved.