Cody Easterday sentenced to 11 years in prison for cattle fraud scam
Read
Almost two years ago, Easterday confessed to swindling meat companies of hundreds of millions of dollars for the care and feeding of nonexistent cattle. After he came clean, Easterday worked with the bankruptcy court to sell off most of his family’s massive farm and ranch empire.
“It’s all come to a collapse,” Judge Stanley Bastian said in the courtroom Tuesday before sentencing Easterday to 11 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref said the $244 million Easterday stole was the largest amount in a criminal fraud case in the district of Eastern Washington.
“It’s very critical that we send a message to the community that this type of fraud — almost a quarter of a billion dollars — is taken seriously,” Waldref said.
Easterday’s lawyer Carl Oreskovich had argued for a lighter sentence, saying Easterday had been a community stalwart to the local 4-H kids, his workers and his family.
“He’s somebody that has helped everybody. And this is something that he’ll take hard,” Oreskovich said.
After the sentencing, Easterday’s supporters filed out of the courtroom silently.
Related Stories:
Celebración del Cinco de Mayo este fin de semana en el centro de Washington
Las celebraciones del Cinco de Mayo comenzaron el viernes en el centro de Washington. Este fin de semana habrá diferentes actividades para entretener y educar a la comunidad sobre la cultura hispana. Continue Reading Celebración del Cinco de Mayo este fin de semana en el centro de Washington
Cinco de Mayo celebration this weekend in Central Washington
Cinco de Mayo events begin Friday in Central Washington, and different activities are scheduled this weekend to entertain and educate people about the Hispanic culture. Continue Reading Cinco de Mayo celebration this weekend in Central Washington
National Memorial Weekend pays tribute to nine fallen PNW firefighters
May 4-5, 2024, commemorates the 43rd National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend. The event, hosted by the National Firefighters Foundation in Emmitsburg, Maryland, will pay tribute to eight firefighters from the Pacific Northwest. Continue Reading National Memorial Weekend pays tribute to nine fallen PNW firefighters