Today Daviess County Prosecutor Annie Gibson filed 25 felony charges against Daniel F. Froman of Gallatin in connection with the closing of Gallatin Grain Company last February.
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Froman faces 22 counts of a Class C felony for stealing grain between April 27, 2006, and February 9, 2009. Froman is also charged with three counts of a Class C felony for grain dealer fraud.
The probable cause statement filed by the Daviess County Sheriff’s office states that during an audit conducted Sept. 30, 2008, at Gallatin Grain Company, Froman altered records and filed false reports with the Missouri Department of Agriculture to conceal amounts owed and to mislead auditors. This involved grain rightfully owned by the Dick Worrell Trust, Ron Ward Farm Inc., and the Maize Family LTD Partnership.
On Feb. 9, 2009, Department of Agriculture officials discovered that all grain stored at the Gallatin grain facility had been sold without consent of those storing grain there. The 22 grain owners affected by the alleged fraud are listed as follows:
Anne Bell, Mike Bohannon, Darrell Critten, Lance Critten, Vennis Croy, Danny Heldenbrand, Dannull & Osborn, Dixon Farms Inc., Warren Hemry, Bill Hill, Randy Johnson, Lewis Jones, Jim and Janet Lasher, Ben Rexing, Sullenger Farms, David Taylor, Keith Sutton, David Tolen, Travis Walker, Kevin Waterbury, Mike Waterbury, and the Roy Worrell Trust.
It is expected that the dollar amounts will not be revealed until the administrative hearing which has been set for May 28.
A warrant has not been issued for the arrest of Mr. Froman as of press deadline, but a warrant for Froman’s arrest is expected. Judge Darren Adkins has recused himself and another judge will be appointed to sign the warrant and set bond.
Gallatin Grain Company voluntarily surrendered its grain warehouse and dealer licenses to state regulatory officials in February and closed, due to an inability to pay debts. In March over 100 claims against Gallatin Grain Company were filed with the Missouri Department of Agriculture, and the state took over operations.