A Slocomb man has been federally sentenced for making a false statement to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC).

Jonathan Lawrence Eubanks, 46, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for making a false statement to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC).

Officials with the Department of Justice say Eubanks forged a farmer’s signature on a federal crop insurance application and then falsified an email to show that the farmer had signed the application on Tuesday, February 10, 2024 when February 10, 2024, was a Saturday.

Officials say on November 12, 2024 Eubanks submitted the falsified email to an insurance company with the intent of influencing the company to provide federal crop insurance for the farmer’s 2024 crop in Covington County.

On April 14, 2026, Eubanks plead guilty to making a false statement to the FCIC or a company insured by the FCIC.

“Federal crop insurance provides a critical safety net for farmers, but that safety net is built on honesty and integrity,” said U.S. Attorney Govan. “Forging a farmer’s signature and fabricating an email to obtain federal crop insurance is not a simple paperwork mistake, it is fraud. We will hold accountable those who intentionally falsify information to manipulate federally supported programs.”

According to officials, court documents and statements made in court confirm that Eubanks got a license to sell insurance in 2017 and sold policies covered by the Federal Crop Insurance Program (FCIP) for a group based in Hartford, Alabama.

The FCIP provides federal crop insurance for farmers who have lost crops due to adverse weather, natural disasters and other covered events.

Source - https://www.wdhn.com