A Whispering Pines, North Carolina, man has been charged with felony embezzlement and accused of taking money from farmers that thought they were joining a cooperative.
The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office first received a report of potential fraud involving the All-American Agriculture Association in March 2017. Upon investigation, authorities discovered Brian Thomsen, 45, had allegedly been targeting farmers from several counties to join the cooperative for $500 each, but then used the funds elsewhere.
According to their Facebook page, the All-American Agriculture Association, based out of Asheboro, is a “farmer owned cooperative dedicated to returning prosperity back to the American independent farmer.”
In November 2016, the Association released this promotional video to start a membership drive.
From that post until their last one in January 1, 2017, the AAAA advertised upcoming membership info meetings as well as promised health, life, dental, and vision insurance for their members. The association claimed some members had saved over 50 percent on their premiums.
Thomsen has been charged with three counts of felony embezzlement and is scheduled to appear today at the Chatham County District Court.
