Share
A Selma woman was arrested Wednesday on a federal indictment charging her with mail fraud for allegedly submitting over $790,000 in fraudulent crop insurance claims, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced in a news release.
According to court records, from at least November 2013 through September 2016, Sihota controlled her family’s farms in Fresno and Tulare Counties that produced table grapes, plums, and other crops. The crops were sold through fruit brokers in Valley supermarket chains and other third-party buyers, the release said.
Federally Backed Crop Insurance Policies Obtained
Throughout this period, Sihota and others obtained federally-backed crop insurance policies for the farms through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Investigators say they then submitted fraudulent insurance claims for crop losses due to heat, rain, and other conditions that did not actually occur.
The indictment states Sihota was among various individuals, including some working for produce brokers, altered records to misrepresent information about the crops that were sold, and submitted the records to the insurance program to support the alleged fraudulent claims.
Insurance Payments Obtained
Insurance payouts were made for the claimed losses, the Justice Department says. When adjusters sought to confirm the accuracy of the submitted records, Sihota and others told them the representations were accurate and complete, when they were not, the release said.
If convicted, Sihota faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each of the conspiracy and mail fraud charges.
[activecampaign form=25]RELATED TOPICS:
Gomez Guilty of Murdering Los Hooligans Bass Player
8 hours ago
Biden Says It Was a Mistake to Say He Wanted to Put Trump in a ‘Bull’s-Eye’
8 hours ago
Tesla CEO Elon Musk Appears to Confirm Delay in Aug. 8 Robotaxi Unveil Event to Make Design Change
11 hours ago
Smittcamp Asks Court to Drop His Lawsuit Against Controversial NW Fresno Project
12 hours ago
Measure P Arts Grants Spark Debate and a Meeting Tonight
12 hours ago
Tedford Exits Fresno State Football. Tim Skipper Is the Next Bulldog Up.
12 hours ago
Trump Receives Enough Delegate Votes to Officially be Republicans’ Nominee
13 hours ago
Man Dies After Rescuing His 2 Children in Mississippi River
7 hours ago
Categories
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/15173402/A-photo-provided-by-Jesse-Pope-shows-Cody-Jay-Pope-right-with-him-in-2012.-The-authorities-found-the-body-of-Cody-Jay-Pope-a-41-year-old-Minnesota-man-who-had-disappeared-two-days-earlier-after-1024x538.jpg)
Man Dies After Rescuing His 2 Children in Mississippi River
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/15150557/AP24197467333843-1024x576.jpg)
Is Inflation Finally Corralled? Powell Says Federal Reserve Believes It’s Close
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/15171647/Los-Hooligans-court_1280X720-1024x576.jpg)
Gomez Guilty of Murdering Los Hooligans Bass Player
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/15172819/President-Joe-Biden-arrives-to-speak-to-members-of-the-media-in-Rehoboth-Beach-Del.-about-the-shooting-incident-at-Donald-Trumps-rally-in-Pa.-on-Saturday-July-13-2024.-President-Biden-said-o-1024x538.jpg)
Biden Says It Was a Mistake to Say He Wanted to Put Trump in a ‘Bull’s-Eye’
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/15144853/AP24197697589922_-1024x576.jpg)
Tesla CEO Elon Musk Appears to Confirm Delay in Aug. 8 Robotaxi Unveil Event to Make Design Change
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/15120621/lawsuit-against-respiratory-care-facility_1280X720-1024x576.jpg)
Smittcamp Asks Court to Drop His Lawsuit Against Controversial NW Fresno Project
![The Wines of Fresno: Tony Kirk, Birdstone Winery](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/12152749/Tony-Kirk-Birdstone-Winery-016-1-1024x576.jpg)