Plea agreement reached in Missouri grain fraud case

ST. LOUIS — A mid-Missouri woman nicknamed the “Madoff of the Midwest” for defrauding farmers of millions of dollars has reached a deal with prosecutors on state charges.

Grain dealer Cathy Gieseker of Martinsburg is serving a nine-year prison term after plead-ing guilty to federal mail fraud charges in November. Authorities say she bilked 179 farmers out of a combined $27.4 million.

Nanci Gonder, a spokeswoman for Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster, confirmed Thursday that a plea agreement on state charges has been reached but not signed. She declined to discuss details. Calls to Gieseker’s attorney were not returned.

KXEO Radio reports that Gieseker now faces a court hearing on June 16 in Warrenton, where the judge will decide whether to accept the plea agreement.

Tags: agribusiness, grain, crops, missouri, fraud