In January, Attorney General Josh Kaul announced that Michael J. Moran, owner of Wisconsin Dairy State Cheese Company, was charged with felony theft of more than 80 farmers in Wood County.
Farmers provide milk to Moran’s business, Dairy State Cheese Company in Rudolph, Wis. The complaint alleges that Moran forged the names of farmers on underpayment checks and converted the funds for his own use or the use of others. Processors, such as cheese plants, write underpayment checks to producers, such as dairy farmers, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) sets the price of milk higher than what a processor initially paid for the milk. USDA auditors determine the amount of underpayment and order processors to issue the underpayment checks.
The complaint claims that after the defendant would forge the payees’ signatures on the back of the checks, he would then place them in the cash register at the cheese store thereby converting them for his own use, all without the consent of the payees. The checks from the register would then be taken together to the bank at the end of the week and deposited.
Approximately 83 milk producers are reported to have been victimized. The total loses for these 83 milk producers amounts to $21,250.97. Of the victims, 21 are over 60 years old.
According to court documents, Moran’s initial appearance in court is set for Monday, February 24th at 9 AM. Moran will appear before Judge Gregory J. Potter at the Wood County Courthouse in Wisconsin Rapids.
Josh Scramlin recently spoke with Attorney General Josh Kaul about this case. To hear their conversation, click the play button below:
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