An Edgecombe County tobacco farmer has been sentenced to 6 months in federal prison followed by three years of probation and fined $25,000.
Kay Weeks Fishers, 67, of Whitakers was convicted of making material false statements during an on-going federal grand jury investigation and took steps to help another farmer conceal the sales of hidden tobacco and encouraged the farmer to provide false testimony to federal agents.
The farmer, who was also prosecuted, eventually told the truth. Fisher’s criminal conduct obstructed the investigation and the judicial proceedings, according to US Attorney John Stuart Bruce.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, US Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General and Risk Management Agency – Special Investigations Branch.
