Nikki Charles, 49, of England pleaded guilty in federal court today for her involvement in defrauding the US Department of Agriculture out of more than $11.5 million intended to benefit farmers who’d been discriminated against because they were Black, Hispanic or women.
According to the U.S. attorney’s office, Charles admitted soliciting people to file false claims. She verified statements from supposed corroborating witnesses, none of whom had appeared before Charles. The government lost $4.5 million on Charles’ claims, which Charles agreed to repay.
Four sisters already had pleaded guilty — Lynda Charles, 72, of Hot Springs; Rosie Bryant, 74, of Colleyville, Texas; Delois Bryant, 75, of North Little Rock; and Brenda Sherpell, 72, of Gainesville, Texas. A sixth defendant, Everett Martindale, worked as an attorney and acted as the legal representative for most of the claimants that the five women recruited. Martindale is set for trial on August 30, 2022.
The sisters also admitted that they hired a tax preparer to falsify tax returns, resulting in failure to report over $4.6 million to the Internal Revenue Service. That tax preparer, Jerry Green, pleaded guilty in January 2021. Judge Price Marshall will sentence those who pleaded guilty at a later date.
Under the claims program, farmers who could show they applied and believed they’d been discriminated against could make a claim, with a possible award of $62,500 — $50,000 payable to the claimant and $12,500…
