"Untouchable" Richie Farmer, Kentucky's Ex Agriculture Commissioner, Sentenced To 27 Months In Federal Prison, Fined $120,000.

Ex-ag chief Richie Farmer sentenced to prison

FRANKFORT — Former University of Kentucky basketball star Richie Farmer was sentenced Tuesday to 27 months in prison for misusing state resources during his tenure as Kentucky's agriculture commissioner.

U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove ordered Farmer to pay $120,500 in restitution, with $105,500 going to the state and $15,000 going to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.

Farmer, 44, a guard for the 1991-92 UK team dubbed "The Unforgettables" for their gutsy play, had pleaded guilty in September to two counts of misappropriating government resources while overseeing the Agriculture Department. Farmer, a Republican, was agriculture commissioner from 2004 to 2011.

"Certainly, I made some mistakes and I made some poor judgments, and for that I'm truly sorry," Farmer said in a brief statement in court. "I just want to say publicly I am sorry for all those things. ... I am truly, truly sorry for what I've done."

Farmer also is scheduled to be sentenced Friday before Franklin Circuit Court Phillip Shepherd to a one-year concurrent sentence. He pleaded guilty in a separate case to one count of violating state finance law, relating to 2008 campaign expenditures.

In April 2013, Farmer was charged by a federal grand jury with four counts of misappropriating money and property and one count of soliciting property in exchange for a state grant. Each charge carried a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He initially pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Prosecutors alleged that Farmer had created political jobs for close friends who performed little or no work. Those employees allegedly ran personal errands for Farmer, including building a basketball court at his home in Frankfort and chauffeuring his dog, while being paid by the state.

The indictment alleged that Farmer took a variety of state property, including electronic equipment, guns, knives, refrigerators and filing cabinets. Farmer's extended family stayed in hotel rooms that were paid for by the state during the Kentucky State Fair in 2009 and 2010, the indictment alleged.

Farmer also faced a 42-count charge brought by the Executive Branch Ethics Commission. Those charges included misuse of state employees, misuse of state resources, improper use of grants and improper use of Kentucky Proud marketing funds.

Much of the information in the indictment and in the ethics charges stemmed from state Auditor Adam Edelen's review of the agriculture department after Farmer left office in 2012. The audit found that a "toxic culture of entitlement" permeated the department under Farmer.

Van Tatenhove said he would recommend that Farmer serve his sentence at a federal camp at Manchester in Clay County, Farmer's home county. The decision of where he serves the sentence will be made by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

Farmer will be free until March 18, when he must report to prison.

Defense attorney J. Guthrie True had argued that a 21-month sentence would be sufficient, but Van Tatenhove chose to go with the greater sentence sought by prosecutors.

"Breach of the public trust is a really serious crime," Van Tatenhove said. "Part of my job is to hold you accountable for that."

The judge took note of Farmer's basketball triumphs and said: "Nothing I'm saying today should take away from those accomplishments."

Van Tatenhove then added his two cents' worth on whether Farmer's retired jersey should still hang from the Rupp Arena rafters. Some people have questioned whether a uniform honoring a soon-to-be federal prison inmate should still hang there.

Van Tatenhove left no doubt about his opinion, saying it "should remain hanging from now until eternity."

Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, said reaction in Clay County about Farmer is "one of quite mixed emotions."

"We're very sad that this occurred, but we hope that this is a chapter in his life that he can get behind him and move forward.

"He has three small children, parents and relatives who have all been affected by this. We hope this brings to a conclusion this matter."

Few athletes in the state's history were as beloved as Farmer. He became a folk hero in Clay County in the 1980s, leading the school in the Eastern Kentucky mountains to three state title games and the 1987 Sweet Sixteen championship.

By the time Farmer ended his high school career with 51 points in the 1988 state finals, his popularity was so great that then-Kentucky coach Eddie Sutton offered him a Wildcats scholarship.

Farmer and his fellow UK classmates Deron Feldhaus, John Pelphrey and Sean Woods stuck with Kentucky through the Sutton-era NCAA probation. The quartet helped Rick Pitino rebuild Kentucky basketball. In 1998, Farmer was inducted into the Dawahares/Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame. The Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in Louisville — the statewide sports hall — inducted Farmer in 2002.

In 2011, his last year as agriculture commissioner, Farmer ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor on a ticket with former state Senate President David Williams of Burkesville. They lost to incumbent Gov. Steve Beshear and his running mate, Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Taylor said "no one takes pleasure in seeing one of Kentucky's favorite sons take a fall like this."

Nevertheless, Taylor said Farmer's sentence should send a message to others who would abuse the public trust, who want to know "where the edge of the road is."

"A message has to be sent," Taylor said.

True, Farmer's defense attorney, said that for someone like Farmer, who climbed higher in life, "the risk is the higher fall when you make a mistake."

"I am one bad decision from being in that same spot," True said.

True then argued that a 21-month sentence would send the same message and would be the same deterrent to others as a 27-month sentence.

"I would submit that 21 months is sufficient," True said.

But Judge Van Tatenhove, citing French historian Alexis de Tocqueville, said, "Liberty cannot endure without morality." (The judge took liberties with the quote; what de Tocqueville actually said is "Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith.")

In any case, the judge said the punishment must be about "upholding the public trust," and chose the greater sentence for Farmer.

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2014/01/14/3033479/farmer-sentenced-to-more-than.html#storylink=cpy

As Planned, Richie Farmer Enters Plea For Public Corruption, Will Be Sentenced January 14Th.

            

Ex-hoops star pleads guilty in corruption case

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Former University of Kentucky basketball star turned politician Richie Farmer has entered a guilty plea to government corruption charges in a deal with prosecutors.
Farmer, whose jersey hangs as a monument in the rafters of Rupp Area, faces about two years in prison for misdeeds while serving as the state's agriculture commissioner.
He appeared Friday morning in U.S. District Court in Frankfort.

"I let down the people of Kentucky, I let down my family and friends, and for this I am truly sorry," Farmer said during the proceeding.

Farmer was accused of using Department of Agriculture employees to work on his Frankfort home, including building a basketball court in his backyard. Prosecutors said Farmer also hired friends, including his girlfriend, as special assistants who did little or no work for the agency. And they accused Farmer of using government employees to do personal errands, including babysitting his children, mowing his yard, even chauffeuring his dog.

In A Companion Ethics Case, Richie Farmer's Sister Rhonda Monroe Agrees To Pay $6,000 Fine For Heeding His Call To: "Help Me, Rhonda!"

Farmer's sister to pay $6K fine for ethics abuses

The Executive Branch Ethics Commission has imposed a $6,000 fine against Rhonda Monroe, the former assistant executive director of the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance.
 
That fine and an accompanying public reprimand were part of a settlement agreement with Monroe, the sister of former state Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer.

Members of the ethics panel approved the settlement on Monday. Under the agreement, Monroe admitted helping Farmer get improper reimbursements from a campaign account personal use. Those violations date back to Farmer's 2007 campaign for re-election as agriculture commissioner.

The ethics panel also approved a settlement agreement to resolve unspecified ethics charges against Farmer on Monday. The panel hasn't yet released details of that agreement.

Richie Farmer Agrees To Pay Largest Ethics Fine In Kentucky's History.

Richie Farmer agrees to largest ethics fine ever in Kentucky

FRANKFORT, Ky. — A former University of Kentucky basketball star turned politician will pay the largest ethics fine in state history as part of a plea agreement that would resolve an array of criminal and administrative charges, an official said Monday.
John Steffen, executive director of the Executive Branch Ethics Commission, declined to reveal the amount of the fine because he said the terms of the settlement agreement with his agency are contingent on Farmer's guilty plea later this week on state and federal government corruption charges.

Farmer, whose jersey hangs as a monument in the rafters of Rupp Area, reached a plea deal with prosecutors last week that would put him in prison for about two years.
Steffen said the settlement agreement, approved by members of the ethics commission Monday, includes the most counts ever against a government official. That's appropriate, Steffen said, "because it is by far the worst misconduct by a public servant that we've seen."

Prosecutors alleged that during his tenure as director of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Farmer used government employees to work on his Frankfort home and to build a basketball court in his backyard. They said he also hired friends, including his girlfriend, as special assistants who did little or no work. They accused Farmer of directing agency employees to drive him on personal errands, babysit his children, mow his lawn and transport his dog. Farmer also was accused of misappropriating agency property for his own use.
"What he did was wrong," Steffen said. "We can't have state officials or anyone in government misuse their positions like he did, so he's being held accountable."

Farmer, the sweet-shooting guard for a UK team dubbed "The Unforgettables" for their gutsy play, launched a political career that came crashing down during a bid for lieutenant governor two years ago when complaints began to surface about his management of the agriculture department. He headed the department from 2004 through 2011.

Farmer's attorney, Guthrie True of Frankfort, filed a motion for a change of plea last Thursday, signaling that he has reached agreements to resolve all pending and potential criminal and ethics charges.
Terms of the plea agreement require Farmer to plead guilty in U.S. district court to two counts of misappropriating state resources, as well as one count of violating state campaign-finance law in Franklin County circuit court.
Farmer was indicted in federal court in Lexington in April on four counts of misappropriating government property and money and one count of soliciting property in exchange for a government grant. He has remained free pending trial, though his travel was restricted to within Kentucky.
Farmer was set to stand trial Oct. 22. Instead, U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove scheduled Farmer to appear in court on Friday to enter the guilty plea.

He could have faced up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each of the five federal counts. Prosecutors had said they would also seek $450,000 — the amount that was allegedly misappropriated — from Farmer, a Republican who was elected twice as agriculture commissioner in a state that is predominantly Democrat by voter registration.

Under the agreement, Farmer would face a sentence of up to two years and three months in prison, and pay total fines and restitution of $120,500.

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2013/09/09/2812448/ethics-panel-approves-richie-farmers.html#storylink=cpy

Beware Of Friday, The 13Th: Judge Sets Friday, 13Th As The Day For Richie Farmer To Plead Guilty To Federal Felony Charge(s).

  Judge sets Friday the 13th plea date for Farmer

Former University of Kentucky basketball star Richie Farmer will appear in federal court next Friday, Sept. 13, to enter a guilty plea in a government corruption case.

U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove entered an order Friday setting the date.

Farmer's attorney, Guthrie True of Frankfort, had filed a motion for a change of plea Thursday morning, signaling that he had reached agreements to resolve all charges related to Farmer's tenure as agriculture commissioner.

Farmer had been scheduled to stand trial Oct. 22 on a five-count federal indictment. He has remained free pending trial.
Farmer, who led the Kentucky Department of Agriculture from 2004 through 2011, faces about two years in prison under the plea deal. He could have been sentenced to 10 years in prison at trial.

Richie Farmer's Saga Continues, As His Sister Resigns Her Post At Kentucky Registry Of Election Finance.

Richie Farmer's sister resigns post at Kentucky Registry of Election Finance

FRANKFORT, KY. — Rhonda Monroe, the sister of former Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer, has resigned as assistant executive director of the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance.
Monroe was placed on paid leave by the registry on March 19 — a day after she and Farmer were charged by the Executive Branch Ethics Commission with filing false documents that allowed Farmer to claim excess expenses from his 2007 re-election campaign fund.

Records obtained by The Courier-Journal Tuesday in response to an Open Records Act request show that Monroe submitted her resignation May 15 and it was effective the following day.
In her letter to registry Executive Director Sarah Jackson and Chairman Craig Dilger, Monroe said, “To follow up on previous communications, I am writing to provide my formal resignation.”
Monroe, who had been at the Registry since January 2005, did not give a reason in the letter for her resigning the $77,931-per-year job. And she said in the letter, “While this break in service may be necessary at this time, I remain hopeful of future opportunities for similar personal and professional advancement.”
Jackson responded with a letter telling Monroe her resignation was “accepted ... due to a pending investigation into alleged misconduct.”
Monroe’s attorney, James Deckard, did not return phone messages Tuesday.

In March the ethics commission charged Monroe with three counts, and Farmer with a record 42 counts, of violating the state ethics code. If later found guilty by the commission, each count is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000.
Farmer’s charges allege a broad range of instances where the commission alleges he put his personal interests above the public interest during his 2004-11 tenure as state agriculture commissioner. Since his ethics charges, Farmer has been indicted by a federal grand jury on four counts of misappropriating funds and one count of soliciting a bribe. He has pleaded not guilty.

The three ethics counts against Monroe alleged she used her position as a high-ranking state campaign finance official to help her brother tap his 2007 re-election campaign fund with phony expense claims.
The charges allege Monroe provided her brother with receipts for her own personal expenses and then guided him on how to submit them to his campaign for reimbursement. The charges also allege she later helped him deceive auditors from the agency where she worked by drafting a misleading letter that her brother gave the auditors.

The ethics charges prompted the registry to place Monroe on leave while its attorney conducted its own investigation of the matter. Dilger said the investigative report was to be completed before the end of May. With Monroe’s continued employment at the registry no longer an issue, Dilger said the report’s focus will shift to whether policies and practices of the registry need to be strengthened.

Three Of Richie Farmer's Former Employees Settle Kentucky Ethics Charges Against Them.

Three former agriculture employees settle ethics charges

FRANKFORT — Three former state agriculture employees agreed Monday to pay a total of $15,500 in fines to settle ethics charges that stemmed from their employment under former Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer.
In March, the Executive Branch Ethics Commission issued 42 ethics charges against Farmer, who was commissioner from 2004 to 2011. In addition, the commission charged six other former agriculture department employees and Farmer’s sister, Rhonda Monroe, an assistant director for the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance.
On Monday, the commission announced settlements with three of the former agriculture employees: Bruce Harper, George “Doug” Begley and Chris Parsons.

The ethics charges against Farmer, Monroe and former agriculture employees William E. Mobley, Steven Mobley and Stephanie L. Sandmann are still pending, said John Steffen, executive director of the Executive Branch Ethics Commission.
Farmer also faces federal criminal charges for allegedly misusing more than $450,000 in taxpayer funds during his tenure as the state’s top agriculture official. One of the charges against Farmer alleges that he gave plum gigs to friends who had to perform little or no work. William E. Mobley and Stephanie Sandmann, Farmer’s girlfriend, are mentioned in the federal indictment by their initials.

Bruce Harper, a deputy commissioner under Farmer, was accused by the ethics commission of soliciting funds for a 2008 agriculture convention from organizations that the Department of Agriculture regulated, and of interfering with state business by directing agriculture employees to probate a $250 fine for a farmer who had violated the state’s dead animal disposal laws. He also was accused of directing an employee to not deposit a $3,000 penalty check from a grain dealer, who was a political contributor.

In his settlement, Harper acknowledged that he violated state ethics rules and agreed to pay a $4,500 fine. Harper no longer works for the department.
George “Doug” Begley, who inspected amusement rides for the state, also acknowledged that he broke ethics rules and agreed to pay a $6,500 fine. According to the ethics panel, Begley falsely claimed time that he never worked, misused his state vehicle and performed work for his private logging business while on state time.
Chris Parsons, who was employed in the Office of State Veterinarian, agreed to pay a $5,000 fine and admitted that he lied about inspecting stockyards and grocery store scales, falsified time sheets and used his state-issued gas card to purchase gas for his personal use.
Harper has already paid his $4,500 fine. Begley and Parsons have until June 28 to pay their fines.

Federal Judge Delays Trial Of Richie Farmer Until October, 22.

Richie Farmer trial moved to Oct. 22

Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer

FRANKFORT — A federal judge has rescheduled the trial of former Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer to Oct. 22.
Attorneys for Farmer had asked to delay the original July 2 trial date to February 2014 because of the complexity of the case and scheduling conflicts. Federal prosecutors argued in court documents that a seven month delay was too long and asked for a fall trial date. The trial is expected to last three weeks.

In his Wednesday order, U.S. District Court Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove said Farmer’s lawyers will need additional time to prepare for trial but not until February.
Farmer has filed a waiver to his right to a speedy trial but an undue delay could hurt the public, Van Tatenhove said.
“Farmer is a former public official, who is accused of abusing the public’s money and trust,” Van Tatenhove wrote. “Therefore, the court must consider the public’s right to have the matter expeditiously resolved as well.”

Farmer is accused of hiring friends for jobs with high salaries and few responsibilities, taking guns and other gifts intended for a 2008 agriculture conference and taking state-owned computers, refrigerators and filing cabinets for his personal use. Farmer has pleaded not guilty. The federal government is also asking Farmer to repay $450,000, the amount of taxpayer money he allegedly misused.

Farmer, a former University of Kentucky basketball player, was agriculture commissioner from 2004 to 2011. He was the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor in 2011.
Federal prosecutors have already turned over 16 compact discs containing evidence that could be used against Farmer at trial. Farmer’s lawyers have also asked for more discovery, including criminal records of all potential witnesses and summaries of witness testimony.

Some Richie Farmer Events On Federal Court Day. Watch Video.

As Expected, Federal Grand Jury Indicts Richie Farmer On Multiple Felony Charges.

Farmer indicted on felony fraud charges  

The attorney for former Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said Monday his client will plead not guilty to felony charges of misappropriating state funds.J. Guthrie True told reporters in Frankfort on Monday that Farmer is not in custody and will appear in court for his arraignment April 30.

In an indictment unsealed Monday, Farmer was charged with four federal felony counts of misappropriating state funds and one count of soliciting goods.

The former state basketball icon was the state's agriculture commissioner from 2004 to the end of 2011. The indictment charges him with using his state position to obtain thousands of dollars' worth of gifts, hotel rooms, clothing and computers. It also charges him with hiring friends who did little or no work for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.
"Throughout his tenure, Farmer wrongfully used public funds and KDA resources to obtain goods and services for himself and his family," the 13-page indictment said.

If convicted on all counts, the 43-year-old Farmer faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
True said he was "disappointed but not surprised by today's indictment."
At a news conference in Frankfort, True said he and his client were aware of "the plan to indict Richie for several weeks now."
True said he viewed the federal indictment as "a dangerous precedent," saying the issues raised in it are state matters.
"The manner in which the elected commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture conducts his business is a political, not a legal, issue," he said.

U.S. attorney Kerry Harvey declined to say if others may be indicted in the case.
"The investigation continues, and I wouldn't speculate about the course that that might take," Harvey said.

Along with the criminal charges, federal prosecutors want Farmer to give up $450,000 in either cash or assets.
Farmer, a homegrown athlete from impoverished Clay County, remains one of the biggest names for fans of one of the country's most successful college basketball programs. He was a shooting guard for the University of Kentucky's Wildcats basketball team from 1988 to 1992, a team known as "The Unforgettables."
His jersey hangs in the rafters of Rupp Arena alongside those of Dan Issel, Pat Riley, Kenny Walker and Sam Bowie.

Farmer had been a rising star within the Kentucky GOP until a 2011 unsuccessful run for lieutenant governor on a ticket with Republican state Senate President David Williams. They lost overwhelmingly to incumbent Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear.

In March, Farmer was charged with 42 Kentucky ethics violations, a state record.
The indictment, which was handed up Friday, said Farmer used an account that included state funds to purchase an excessive amount of gifts for visiting state agriculture commissioners for a 2008 national conference. The indictment alleges he kept the gifts that were left over.
"For the thirteen commissioners who attended the 2008 (Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture) conference (a number that included Farmer), the KDA ordered twenty-five customized Remington rifles, twenty-five rifle cases, fifty-two embossed Case knives, and fifty personalized cigar boxes," the indictment says. "... For the approximately thirty-nine KDA employees who worked at the conference, the KDA ordered 175 customized watches. Following the conference, Farmer misappropriated and took possession of the excess `gifts' for his personal use."

The grand jury also accused Farmer of using agriculture department funds to benefit his family and friends, including naming at least three people as "special assistants" who did little or no work for the department.
Farmer directed the "special assistants" to perform personal tasks for him on work hours, including building a basketball court at his home, installing flooring in his attic and organizing his personal effects, according to the indictment.
Farmer approved the salaries and overtime of the assistants who performed the work, the grand jury said. One of these assistants was Farmer's girlfriend, the indictment alleges.

Farmer is also accused of having Agriculture Department employees drive him on personal errands, babysit his children, mow his lawn and transport his dog.
On the solicitation count, the grand jury alleged Farmer in 2009 accepted an unnamed "thing of value" from a motor vehicle dealership in Whitley County in exchange for a state grant.

Editor's note: Read the 13 page indictment.

Also, read the state ethics charges against Richie, and the audit report, which started everything rolling.

Joseph Gerth | Former Kentucky basketball legend Richie Farmer followed wrong game plan

A federal grand jury in Lexington will likely soon write the final, sad chapter in the troubled political career of a Kentucky legend.
The grand jury is looking into the actions of former Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer, the University of Kentucky basketball fan favorite who just a few years ago looked like he was destined to turn his star power into a long, successful political career.

It may have been a sense of entitlement that comes with an uncanny ability to put an orange ball through an 18-inch hoop from the time he was in middle school and then being the most beloved player on the state’s most celebrated college basketball team.

It could have been that he just couldn’t tell right from wrong and didn’t have the people who would tell him when he was screwing up — or that he wouldn’t listen to them when they did.
Whatever it was, Farmer’s wrongdoing has resulted in a record 42 findings of ethics violations against him, findings against employees and even a finding against his sister, Rhonda Monroe, who was placed on leave from her job at the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance pending the outcome of an internal investigation.
Those violations could cost him $210,000.

What did he do?

He allegedly used state employees to mow the lawn at his home, build a basketball court in his back yard, take him shopping and hunting and even chauffeur his dog.
Farmer took home guns that were purchased for attendees of a conference in Kentucky, he hired a girlfriend to a $5,000 per month job for which she rarely showed up and did little work, and he kept a compact refrigerator at his home that was purchased by the state.

Some of those actions could result in federal corruption charges against him.
It really didn’t have to be that way, if only Farmer could have learned to survive on the constitutional officers’ $113,616 per year salary without extra perks he allegedly created for himself, he could have spent decades bouncing around the minor constitutional offices.
He got more votes than anyone on the ballot in other than Ernie Fletcher in 2003 and more votes than anyone when he ran for reelection in 2007.

The only reason he is back home in Clay County, selling cars at last report, is that he ran for lieutenant governor in 2011 on a ticket with former Senate President David Williams, whose personal approval ratings were toxic.
In touring the minor offices, maybe he could have spent eight years as treasurer, eight years as secretary of state and another eight years back in the agriculture commissioner’s office. With that, he could have retired with a generous retirement package.

Yes, Farmer, a Republican, could have been the next Frances Jones Mills.
Mills won her first statewide office in 1971 when she became clerk of the Kentucky Court of Appeals and went on to win two terms as secretary of state and three terms as state treasurer.

But the story doesn’t end there.

See, Jones, a Democrat, lost her last race for office under the cloud of an ethics investigation.
She was the first person found guilty under Kentucky’s ethics law after an investigation found she had accepted Kentucky Derby tickets at no cost from a bank with a state contract, failed to report the Derby tickets and New York trips she received from banks, made personal use of a state storage room and required her employees to perform personal errands for her.
Mills also was found to have violated the ethics law by directing one of her Treasury Department employees to speak to another about forgiving a $5,100 campaign debt.
So, in a way, it seems that Farmer did become Mills. It’s just unfortunate for him that he that he followed in her ethical, rather than political footsteps.

Richie Farmer Faces Grand Jury, Indictment Expected.

Attorney: Grand jury meets Friday on Richie Farmer

Richie Farmer, a Kentucky basketball icon turned politician, will be the subject of a federal grand jury probe, his attorney said Wednesday.
Farmer, a former Agriculture Commissioner, has not been called to testify before the grand jury Friday but several former agency employees were subpoenaed, attorney Guthrie True said. It's not clear what the grand jury will be looking at.

Farmer has previously been accused of ethics violations during his time at the ag department.
True said he was preparing for an indictment.
"I'm going to be real disappointed if that happens, but, given what I'm beginning to hear, I'm concerned that it's going to happen," True said.
True said Farmer acted appropriately and ethically during his eight-year stint as agriculture commissioner.
Kyle Edelen, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office, declined to comment.

Farmer's popularity as the shooting guard for a University of Kentucky team dubbed "The Unforgettables" catapulted him into elected office a decade ago. The homegrown athlete from impoverished Clay County remains one of the biggest names in one of the country's most successful college basketball programs. His jersey hangs in the rafters of Rupp Arena alongside those of Dan Issel, Pat Riley, Kenny Walker and Sam Bowie.
Farmer served two terms as ag commissioner. He lost a bid for lieutenant governor in 2011, in part because of the brewing ethics scandal.

The Executive Branch Ethics Commission, a state agency that investigates ethics allegations involving government officials, charged Farmer last month with 42 ethics violations. The charges included accusations that Farmer gave jobs to friends, had state employees build a basketball court on his property and gave state-purchased laptops to his family members.

One charge alleged he spent more than $30,000 to take visiting agriculture commissioners to Churchill Downs to watch horse races. Another accused Farmer of directing government employees "to chauffeur the family dog" from Louisville to his home in Frankfort.
The charges, which are still pending, came nearly a year after a scathing state audit characterized the agriculture department under Farmer as "a toxic culture of entitlement."
If the commission finds Farmer guilty of the ethics charges, he could face fines of up to $210,000.
The ethics commission and auditor had turned over their findings to law enforcement agencies, including the FBI.
Farmer is currently a car salesman in Manchester.

HOW ART THE ONCE MIGHTY FALLEN: KENTUCKY'S RICHIE FARMER SELLING CARS AT CLAY COUNTY DEALERSHIP.

Richie Farmer sells cars at Manchester dealerships
By ROGER ALFORD

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Former University of Kentucky basketball star Richie Farmer started selling cars at two dealerships in Manchester, his first job after eight years as state agriculture commissioner.

Tim Short, owner of Tim Short Chevrolet and Tim Short Chrysler, said Thursday was the first day on the job for the UK sports icon who used his athletic celebrity as a springboard into state politics.

Farmer's political career was interrupted last year when he lost a bid for lieutenant governor. Since then, Farmer has gone through a high-profile divorce and has been lambasted by the state auditor for his management of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.

Short said he's excited to have Farmer on his sales staff.

"We think he brings a lot to the table," Short said. "He's got a lot of family and friends and fans, and we think he can bring a lot to the team. So we're really excited about it."

Farmer didn't return phone messages Thursday.

Farmer played on the legendary 1992 University of Kentucky basketball team dubbed "The Unforgettables." He breezed through two elections for agriculture commissioner but lost the race for lieutenant governor on a ticket with former Senate President David Williams.

Farmer, who underwent hip replacement surgery in September, had asked a Franklin County judge to temporarily reduce his $1,227 monthly child support payments until he recovered. He said he during a court hearing that had been unable to find a job since his $110,000-a-year position as agriculture commissioner ended in January.

Franklin County Circuit Judge Squire Williams allowed Farmer to forgo the payments for two months while he recuperated.

Farmer said during the child support hearing that questions about his management at the Department of Agriculture had made it difficult for him to find a job.

A team of state auditors described "a toxic culture of entitlement" within the Kentucky Department of Agriculture during Farmer's administration. They reported finding evidence that suggested Farmer had misused state funds, property and employees.

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/11/08/2400744/richie-farmer-sells-cars-at-manchester.html#storylink=omni_popular#wgt=pop#storylink=cpy

Watch David Williams' Interview With Louisville Courier Journal Editorial Board. Betcha He Won't Get The Endorsement Over Steve Beshear.

One Thing You Can Say About David Williams (Like Him Or Not), He Does Have A "Plan To Make Kentucky Best State In The Nation To Create Jobs". Read More.

Williams Releases Plan To Make Kentucky Best State In The Nation To Create Jobs

(Frankfort) David Williams has released his plan to make Kentucky the best state in the nation to create and retain jobs. The Williams-Farmer campaign released a bold, specific plan that contains the most detailed set of ideas for job creation from any candidate for governor in Kentucky's 2011 election.

>>>> CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PLAN <<<

"I am offering these ideas to the people of Kentucky for debate and consideration," Williams said. "This race should be about the future. I want a real debate on how to create jobs and truly deliver prosperity to the people of Kentucky. These specific ideas offer a framework for a debate that voters deserve to hear."
Williams released his plan on the same day that yet another forum in front of job creators - the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce - was canceled because Gov. Beshear refused to participate.

"With the unemployment crisis we have in this state, it is imperative we talk about bold ideas to get people back to work. I am willing to do that, but Steve Beshear apparently is not," Williams said.
The plan covers comprehensive tax reform that includes a complete elimination of the state's personal and corporate income tax. It also outlines a series of tax "jumpstarts" that would be enacted while an expert commission draws a new tax plan. It also follows on Williams' idea for a commission of experts to design a new tax code for the entire state.

"I think we can jumpstart the economy in the short term, and then create sustainable prosperity through comprehensive tax reform in the long term," Williams said. "We must make serious tax changes to be competitive with states in our region."

The plan also discusses energy policy, unemployment insurance and public pension reform, promoting Kentucky agriculture, and innovative proposals for local options on right-to-work and prevailing wage policies.
"Kentucky is very diverse. Some parts of the state would jump at the chance to go right-to-work immediately. What I am proposing moves the ball forward on critical issues that would assuredly make Kentucky more competitive for job creation. If someone wants to join a union I think that's fine. But nobody should be forced to join or pay union dues against their will," Williams said.

Williams is also proposing a program to help those receiving unemployment benefits find new jobs.

"We've got hard working Kentuckians who want to work but simply need a hand up. This program gives them new skills and new relationships to move them back into the workforce," Williams said.

David Williams: Pro Life.

Williams Picks Up Key Pro-Life Endorsements
Beshear Once Called Pro-Life Activists "Extremists" & Compared Them to Oklahoma City Bomber!
(Louisville) David Williams has picked up two key pro-life endorsements while Steve Beshear's troubling views on pro-life Kentuckians are re-surfacing.

In a press conferences in Louisville and Owensboro, Kentucky Right to Life PAC conferred its endorsement on Williams, as KRLA Executive Director Margie Montgomery called Williams "the most significant leader the pro-life movement has ever had in Frankfort.

"David Williams has a 100% pro-life record. He is a champion for the cause of protecting life and Kentucky needs him as its next governor," Montgomery said. "Steve Beshear and Jerry Abramson have troubling views on abortion. Beshear once called pro-life activists 'extremists' and compared them to terrorists who bombed a government building. And, as Mayor of Louisville, Abramson funneled hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to the pro-abortion group Planned Parenthood. If you are pro-life, there's a clear choice in this race," Montgomery said.

The Williams-Farmer ticket has also picked up the endorsement of Northern Kentucky Right to Life PAC, another influential organization.

"The Republican candidates, David Williams and Richie Farmer, both made 100% Pro-Life answers to the questionnaire. In addition, Mr. Williams has a strong and long Pro-Life record as a member of the Kentucky legislature for many years. Accordingly, NKRTL-PAC endorses the ticket of Williams and Farmer," NKRTL President Bob Cetrulo said in a statement.

Williams and others on his campaign attended pro-life events this past weekend, including in Louisville, Lexington, and Northern Kentucky. Williams also talked about the importance of being pro-life at the St. John's picnic in Paducah, another event where Beshear refused to show up. Williams said he was honored to have the endorsements, and that Beshear cannot be trusted to protect life.

"I will stand up for every unborn baby. I will fight for their right to live, to get a good education, and to give them a state where they can find a good job and raise their own family," Williams said. "My opponent and his running mate believe abortion should be legal. They hold those of us who are pro-life in low esteem. They will spend the next four years doing absolutely nothing to protect life, and in fact have extremely troubling views about those who are pro-life," Williams said.

In a previous campaign, Steve Beshear told the media what he really thought of pro-life activists. He compared them to Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh! From the Lexington Herald-Leader, October 18, 1996:

Asked why he lumped abortion opponents and accused terrorists into the same group, Beshear said, "There's lots of different types of extremism in our country, and we ought to be denouncing all types of extremism."

"Most people I know can tell the difference between a pro-life patriot and a terrorist," Williams said. "Well, everyone except Steve Beshear, apparently."

Beshear/Abramson: A Troubling History of Opposing Life
Beshear Steve Beshear once compared pro-life activists to the "extremists" who bombed the Oklahoma City federal building. - "Senate Candidates Clash on Role of Abortion Foes," Lexington Herald-Leader, October 18, 1996.
Steve Beshear believes "abortions should be legally available." He also supports Roe vs. Wade. - www.ontheissues.org.
As Mayor of Louisville, Jerry Abramson used taxpayer money to fund Planned Parenthood, even bypassing the Metro Council to do it. - "Rule change aids Planned Parenthood; Metro budget altered wording on contracts," Louisville Courier-Journal, June 29, 2005.
David Williams: Pro-Life Champion
KY Right To Life Leader Margie Montgomery Praised David Williams' Pro-Life Record. "David is one of the strongest pro-life leaders in Frankfort," [Margie Montgomery] said in a statement. "He has worked tirelessly to pass legislation ranging from the fetal homicide bill to informed consent. Without his unwavering voice, the cause of protecting the unborn would be much further behind. In David Williams, pro-life citizens have a proven leader they can trust to stand up for our values." - "Williams gets Kentucky Right to Life endorsement," Associated Press, April 13, 2011.

Meanwhile, Ethics Board Dismisses Ethics Complaint File By Kentucky Democratic Party Against David Williams. HEY Ethics Board: When Are You Going To Start Sanctioning Folks For Filing FRIVOLOUS Complaints, EH!?

Ethics panel dismisses complaint against Williams on gambling winnings
By Jack Brammer

FRANKFORT – The Legislative Ethics Commission dismissed a complaint Tuesday filed by state Democratic Party Chairman Daniel Logsdon accusing Republican gubernatorial candidate David Williams of not reporting his gambling winnings to the watchdog agency.

Meanwhile, the Kentucky Democratic Party filed a complaint with the Executive Branch Ethics Commission about the use of taxpayers’ dollars to buy a refrigerator for Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer’s house.

Farmer is running for lieutenant governor on the ticket with Williams against Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear and his running mate, former Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson. Lexington lawyer Gatewood Galbraith is running as an independent with Frankfort marketing consultant Dea Riley.

The candidates’ political parties have been busy this year filing ethics complaints against their opponents.

Kentucky Democratic Party Files Ethics Complaint Against Richie Farmer Over Mini Refrigerator. YEP, You Read Right. SILLY Season Is Upon Us!

Democrats file ethics complaint against Farmer

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- Kentucky Democrats have filed an ethics complaint against Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer for using a state account to buy a refrigerator for his home.

The complaint from the state Democratic party also says Farmer, who has headed the department since 2004, has used his state vehicle for personal use "for almost eight years" without reporting the mileage.

Farmer, a former University of Kentucky basketball star, is running mate to Republican gubernatorial candidate David Williams. Williams is challenging incumbent Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear in the Nov. 8 general election.

Donald Storm, campaign chair for the Williams-Farmer ticket, said in a statement Tuesday that the Democratic Party is "using the levers of government to generate headlines in a pathetic attempt to cover up Gov. Beshear's abysmal record when it comes to job creation."

The complaint, filed Tuesday, arrives in the middle of a campaign season that has seen allegations of improprieties raised by both camps. Late last month, Republican Party Chairman Steve Robertson filed a complaint with the Executive Branch Ethics Commission alleging that a Beshear aide solicited contributions from state employees. Earlier that month a state employee seeking whistleblower status made similar allegations against Beshear.

Agriculture Department spokesman Ted Sloan declined to comment Tuesday on the complaint against Farmer.

Farmer spokesman Bill Clary told The Courier-Journal last month that two refrigerators were bought with a state credit card. Clary says Farmer used one when he worked from home, but it has been returned to the office. Clary said the other fridge had not been located.

Farmer is completing his second term as agriculture commissioner, and wasn't allowed under Kentucky law to seek re-election.

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush To Headline Fundraiser For Williams/Farmer Campaign And KYGOP.

Subject: Gov. Jeb Bush To Headline Fundraiser for WF'11 and KYGOP
Importance: High

In Case You Missed It:
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush To Headline Fundraiser for Williams-Farmer and KYGOP

FRANKFORT — Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush will appear at a fundraiser for the Republican gubernatorial slate of David Williams and Richie Farmer and the state Republican Party on Aug. 25 in Louisville, the campaign said Wednesday.
U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Louisville also will headline the event, which will be held at 6 that evening at a private home in Louisville. Ticket prices range from $250 to $1,000 a person.

“We are thrilled to have Governor Bush and Senator McConnell headline what is sure to be a great event in Louisville,” said Williams-Farmer campaign chairman Donald Storm, who is a retired adjutant general of the Kentucky National Guard.
“Gov. Bush’s leadership on economic and education policy in Florida should be of particular interest to many people. We are recruiting people from all over the state who wish to attend and look forward to a great event.”

Kentucky GOP Chairman Steve Robertson said Bush, the brother of former President George W. Bush and son of former President George Bush, represented “a great example of how interested national Republican leaders are in electing solid conservatives up and down the ticket this year.”
Bush’s appearance in Kentucky follows one by Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, who helped the Williams-Farmer campaign and Kentucky GOP raise hundreds of thousands of dollars in June.

“I am honored to come to Kentucky and support great candidates who share my passion for helping people truly transform their lives through better education. As a state Senator, David Williams has been a tireless crusader for a better education for Kentucky’s children and I am sure he will take that passion to the governor’s office where he could make a tremendously positive difference in Kentucky’s future,” Bush said in a statement.
“David is more interested in the next generation than the next election, and that attitude would serve the people of Kentucky well over the next four years.”

To attend the event, contact the Williams-Farmer campaign at (502) 871-4775 or the Republican Party of Kentucky at (502) 875-5130.
###

Breaking Kentucky News: Luke Marchant Out As David Williams' Campaign Manager.

Marchant no longer manager of Williams' campaign
By ROGER ALFORD

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- A Florida tea party operative brought into Kentucky to run a GOP gubernatorial campaign has left after less than three months, unable to cut into a popular and well-funded Democratic incumbent's huge lead in the polls.

Luke Marchant, who had served as political director in Florida tea party favorite Marco Rubio's successful U.S. Senate race last year, hadn't provided the hoped-for boost to Republican David Williams. The Republican has been trailing Gov. Steve Beshear in recent polls by more than 20 percentage points.

Williams campaign chairman Donald Storm confirmed Marchant's departure in a statement Thursday.

"Luke had some professional opportunities he wanted to pursue, and we wish him all the best," Storm said. "Although he is no longer the day-to-day manager he will continue to be available to the campaign for consultation."

The campaign didn't immediately name a replacement for Marchant, who didn't respond to an email seeking comment.

Storm said all other campaign staffers working for Williams and running mate Richie Farmer will stay on.

"David and Richie continue with an excellent team of people who are executing an aggressive grassroots and fundraising operation that will carry them to victory come November," Storm said in the statement.

Marchant had joined the campaign shortly after Williams' lackluster win in the May primary over two lesser-known Republican challengers, Louisville businessman Phil Moffett and Jefferson County Clerk Bobbie Holsclaw.

Marchant had replaced longtime Kentucky GOP operative Scott Jennings, who remained with the campaign as a political consultant and chief spokesman.

Beshear campaign manager Bill Hyers had no immediate comment on Marchant's departure.

Kentucky GOP operative Larry Forgy, a Frankfort attorney, said he doesn't expect the departure to negatively affect the Williams campaign.

"I doubt that most people pay attention to that," Forgy said. "If he had been a broadly known political operative in the state, I think it might have been paid attention to by 5 percent of the people. I frankly don't think it will make any difference."

David Adams, who served as campaign manager to U.S. Sen. Rand Paul leading up to last year's GOP primary, said neither Marchant's entry into the race nor his departure will sway tea party activists.

"The Tea Party in Kentucky gave up on David Williams a long time ago," Adams said. "I hope he learns a lesson from what is happening to him now."