Minnesota farmer James Wolf pleaded guilty Friday to one count of wire fraud in connection with an alleged organic crops conspiracy, following a change-of-plea hearing in a federal court.
Under federal law, wire fraud is a Class C felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and 250 thousand dollars in fines.
Wolf asked the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota to complete a presentencing report and conduct an investigation ahead of sentencing.
The court recently rejected Wolf’s request to have farm equipment seized from his farm as part of the investigation returned to allow him to plant this spring.
Wolf was indicted by a grand jury last year on three counts of wire fraud as a result of an alleged conspiracy to falsely sell $46 million in non-GMO corn and soybeans as organic.