An Iowa man was sentenced to five years of probation after he pleaded guilty to selling goats and farm equipment he used as collateral to get a loan for his farm in Decorah.
Andrew Hansen, 36, pleaded guilty to one felony count of conversion of property pledged to a farm credit agency. Hansen took USDA Farm Services Agency loans to operate a dairy goat farm, and used the goats and farm equipment as collateral to get the loans.
“Hansen further admitted that, in August 2013, without notifying the Farm Services Agency, he sold goats that he had pledged as security on the loans, and then used the proceeds from the sale for his own purposes, rather than to pay off the farm loans,” said a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He also sold a variety of farm equipment that was also used to secure the loans.
“Because Hansen was convicted of a felony offense, he can no longer legally possess firearms or ammunition,” the statement said.
Hansen was sentenced Thursday, January 7, 2016, to five years of probation and 50 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay $35,650 in restitution to the Farm Service Agency.
