For the City Times

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Michael J. Moran, owner of Wisconsin Dairy State Cheese Company, Rudolph, has been charged with felony theft of more than 80 farmers in Wood County.

“Wisconsin’s dairy farmers are in the midst of a crisis,” said Attorney General Kaul. “It’s particularly galling that theft alleged in this case resulted in money being stolen from milk producers during such a difficult time.”

On Jan. 28, Moran was charged with one count of felony theft of the farmers who provide milk to his business.

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 loss for the producers amounts to $21,250.97. Of the victims, 21 are over 60 years old.

The investigation is being led by the DOJ Division of Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the USDA Office of Inspector General.

This crime carries a potential maximum sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $25,000.